The Highlanders ended the Bulls' unbeaten run when they smashed them 36-12 in their Super 14 encounter at the Arena Manawatu, in Palmerston North, on Saturday.

The result saw the Highlanders shoot up the standings into play-off contention, while it left the Bulls pondering what was without doubt their worst performance of the year.

Only one team arrived to play rugby on the day and they got a deserved win.

The Highlanders beat the Bulls in all aspects of the game and as good as the Highlanders were, the Bulls were shocking and were probably lucky to get two tries.

The visitors from South Africa played stereotyped one-up rugby, while the Highlanders played like a well-drilled unit and were aggressive and determined in everything they did.

It all started in the set pieces, especially the scrums — where Jamie Mackintosh had Rayno Gerber in trouble all the time — leaving the Bulls to play off the back foot, with static ball.

The Bulls also turned over far too much ball at the ruck — where the Highlanders very aggressive and focussed.

And the Highlanders' kicking was far more accurate.

To emphasise their superiority, the Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan outplayed his rival Fourie du Preez in the battle of the international scrumhalves — not only getting his team over the advantage line, but also looking far more secure in everything he did.

The first real scoring opportunity came in the ninth minute, after Dewald Potgieter was penalised for an incorrect entry at a ruck, but it was a shockingly poor strike by Israel Dagg and the teams stayed deadlocked with no score on the board.

It was indeed the Highlanders who opened the scoring, a few minutes later, when centre Jason Shoemark beat Fourie du Preez with a show-and-go to score the first try. Matthew Berquist added the extras for a 7-0 lead to the 'home' team.

Du Preez immediately made mends for his defensive error when, from a penalty for an early tackle, he caught the Highlanders napping. His quick tap-and-go sent Gerhard van den Heever over in the left corner for the Bulls' first try.

The tit-for-tat scoring continued and just past the halfway mark in the first half the other Highlanders midfielder, Daniel Bowden, took the ball flat and at pace after 11 very good phases and found a huge hole in the Bulls' defence. Berquist added the extras and the Highlanders had a handy 14-5 lead.

That gave the Highlanders a heap of confidence and they got their pick-'n-go game going, which also brought them their next score — with captain Jimmy Cowan diving over for the third try. Berquist's conversion made it 21-5.

The Bulls had a late raid, but as had been the case for the entire first half, the Bulls were not accurate enough at the breakdown and turned the ball over — the Highlanders taking that 16-point lead into the break.

There were more trouble for the Bulls early in the second half, as their breakdown troubles continued — with Matthew Berquist scoring the bonus-point try after the Highlanders went quickly from a free kick and after a few strong runs Berquist found the hole for the try. Berquist added the conversion for a seemingly unassailable 28-5 lead.

And the Bulls' discipline also started letting them down, as they became frustrated with some inconsistent calls from the referee.

Berquist, from a penalty just inside the Bulls 22, made it 31-5.

The Bulls' desperation started to pay off, as they scored next — with flyhalf Morné Steyn went over for the Bulls' second try after some powerful charges by the forwards. Steyn added the conversion to narrow the gap to 31-12.

But it was the Highlanders who had the final say in the match — with one of their star performers, fullback Israel Dagg, going over for the fifth try. Replacement Daniel Bowden couldn't add the conversion, but at 36-12 it was a true reflection of the Highlanders' dominance.

Man of the match: As we said, Jimmy Cowan outplayed Fourie du Preez at scrumhalf and Jamie Mackintosh destroyed the Bulls' scrum. But our award goes to All Black flank Adam Thomson — who was they key to the Highlanders' dominance at the breakdown, while his defence was another shining light for the Highlanders.

The scorers:

For the Highlanders:
Tries: Shoemark, Bowden, Cowan, Berquist, Dagg
Cons: Berquist 4
Pen: Berquist

For the Bulls:
Tries: Van den Heever, Steyn
Con: Steyn

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Daniel Bowden, 11 Kendrick Lynn, 10 Matthew Berquist, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 George Naoupu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Hayden Triggs, 3 Clint Newland, 2 David Hall, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Chris King, 18 Josh Bekhuis, 19 Steven Setephano, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Johnny Leota, 22 Fetu'u Vainikolo

Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Gerhard van den Heever, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez (captain), 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Pedrie Wannenburg, 6 Dewald Potgieter, 5 Danie Rossouw, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Rayno Gerber, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Gürthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Jacques Burger, 20 Heinie Adams, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Jacobus Nel.

Referee: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Jonathan White (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

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