The Pumas were thoroughly outclassed as the Bulls, led by outstanding loose forwards Hilton Lobberts and Danie Rossouw, opened up a healthy half-time lead with four converted tries and then piled on six more tries in the second half to push past the half-century mark.

The Bulls opened their tally in the seventh minute of the first half with a trademark pushover try from a lineout by hooker Adriaan Strauss. But thereafter there was a selection of attractive tries by the backs.

In the 13th minute, Derick Hougaard found the gap and well-timed passes, first from the flyhalf to outside centre Frikkie Welsh and finally to Marius Delport led to a try for the exciting young winger.

Hougaard's second conversion put the Bulls 14-0 up in as many minutes, but the Pumas then enjoyed a period of territorial dominance. But their diminutive wingers, Darryl Coeries and Hyron Thyse, clearly haven't learnt that you don't run at man-monster Lobberts. The SA U21 star cut short a couple of moves with huge tackles and the Pumas did not have the nous or ability to alter their game plan and try a different approach.

Two tries to Scholtz rounded off the first half, the first going to the Bulls centre when he was in an overlap on the end of a backline move and the second being an impressive display of individual power when he charged to the tryline from 15 metres out with three tacklers hanging on to him.

The total dominance of the Bulls was even more obvious in the second half, with forwards Strauss and Rossouw both crossing for tries in the first 15 minutes, before the try of the match came on the hour mark.

A clever crossfield kick by Hougaard was won brilliantly by Delport, who swivelled past his marker and blazed his way to the tryline.

Scholtz crossed nine minutes later to register his hat-trick, with two tries to replacement flyhalf Morne Steyn in the last 10 minutes sealing a massive victory.

The Pumas had little to offer, although flank Corne Steenkamp gave his all but lacked support. One sensed they were just happy to get some points on the scoreboard when the referee gave them a penalty 35 metres out and centre Arno Coetzee duly converted it to give them their meagre three points.

The Pumas battled to contain the power and mobility of the Bulls forwards, while fullback Stefan Basson and Scholtz also punished them severely, the pair both being full of running.

Scorers

Blue Bulls - Tries: Adriaan Strauss (2), Marius Delport (2), Dries Scholtz (3), Danie Rossouw, Morne Steyn (2). Conversions: Derick Hougaard (7), Steyn.

Pumas - Penalty: Arno Coetzee.