The Vodacom Bulls had to dig deep to beat Benetton at Loftus Versfeld and secure a home URC quarter-final.
The Bulls scored seven tries en route to a 45-19 win, but the match was in the balance for the best part of an hour.
The result moved the Bulls from fifth to third on the log, but they are likely to finish fourth with Leinster still to play on Saturday.
The Bulls started in fine fashion as centre Canan Moodie burst through midfield and quick hands put wing Sergeal Petersen over in the corner.
Pertersen finishes off a sweeping move for the opening try
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Ten minutes later, veteran fullback Willie le Roux took a flat pass from flyhalf Handré Pollard to cross under the posts.
Willie le Roux meets Polly’s short ball and the Bulls get their second
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After the early shock, Benetton settled and started to gain a foothold in the match on the back of their powerful maul.
A series of lineout mauls close to the Bulls line eventually saw South African flyhalf Rhyno Smith create the space for wing Louis Lynagh to score.
But the Bulls responded with some powerful mauling of their own and on the half-hour mark hooker Johan Grobbelaar was on hand to make the score 19-5.
The Bulls were denied two more tries for knock-ons during a perplexing period of play which also saw Benetton scrumhalf Alessandro Garbisi yellow-carded for a deliberate knockdown.
It mattered little as lock Cobus Wiese finally crashed over under the posts for the bonus-point try.
Bonus point try: Check
What’s a try-fest at Loftus without a maul?
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However, there was still time for Smith to light up Loftus with a terrific solo try from broken play, and his conversion made it 26-12 at half-time.
There was another shock in store for the home side when Lynagh scored his second less than two minutes into the second half, and suddenly there was a nervousness around Loftus.
Crucially, the Bulls were next to score as Petersen went in for his second.
Stedman x Sergeal combo is always a pleasure to watch
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Further tries by substitute loose forward Mpilo Gumede and captain Ruan Nortjé secured a comfortable win and a home playoff in two weeks.
Surprise, surprise! It’s another try for the Men in Blue
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BULLS – Tries: Sergeal Petersen (2), Willie le Roux, Johan Grobbelaar, Cobus Wiese, Mpilo Gumede, Ruan Nortjé. Conversions: Handré Pollard (5).
BENETTON– Tries: Louis Lynagh (2), Rhyno Smith. Conversions: Rhyno Smith (2).
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
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