In the end, the Bulls did enough to squeeze out a good outcome from an uninspiring performance.

A place in the final of the Currie Cup here at Loftus next weekend has been secured after they beat the Lions 26-21 on Saturday in the first semi-final but coach Jake White will know better than anyone that they will must improve significantly if they are going to be crowned champions.

Under the blistering Saturday afternoon heat in Pretoria, these bitter rivals produced a low key affair that will not be mentioned in the same breath as some of the classics of the past.

In the build-up, White said he didn’t know what type of match is going to come out of Loftus because both teams have not played competitive rugby in more than two weeks due to complications of Covid-19.

His fears were confirmed as the game lacked the intensity and brutality often associated with high stakes clashes between rivals but he won’t care much because his team is in the final.

The Bulls also benefited from their experienced players like Cornal Hendricks, captain Duane Vermeulen, Trevor Nyakane and Lizo Gqoboka who were able to manage game.

For Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen and his captain Elton Jantjies, they will be rue the fact that they failed to score the during first half and they allowed the Bulls to pull away in the second half.

Lions came back from the break with more intent after the break with two quick tries from Willem Alberts and Wandisile Simelane but they could not keep the momentum in the game.

Van Rooyen and Jantjies will also take positives from the fact that emerging players like Wandisile Simelane, Tiaan Swanepoel, Len Massyn, Vincent Tshituka and Stean Pienaar valuable experience during the season.

Bulls came into this match with a 100 percent record here at Loftus this season and they also enjoyed recent dominance over the Lions having beaten them in their meetings this season.

In Super Rugby Unlocked, the Bulls defeated the Lions 30-25 at Ellis Park and they came up on top again with a 22-15 win in Pretoria that earned them a home Currie Cup semi-final.

Bulls got the scoreboard ticking after ten minutes when left winger Stavino Jacobs touched down next to the far side corner flag as the home side benefitted from their spell of pressure on the Lions.

For the opening try that was not converted, vastly experienced flyhalf Morné Steyn played the ball into an empty gap after a few phases and the bounce of the ball favoured Jacobs who did the rest.

The Lions reacted quickly after they conceded the first try from Jacobs and they found themselves in Bulls territory but they were twice turned over from promising try scoring positions.

Bulls stretched their lead further on the half hour mark when Steyn found the middle of the poles from a penalty after the Lions were penalised by referee Rasta Rasivhenge for a handling error.

Steyn successfully put away his second penalty kick of the afternoon on the stroke of half time to ensure that the Bulls went to the break leading by eleven unanswered points but still with lots of work to do.

In between the points that were scored by Jacobs and Steyn in the first half, the two teams attacked each other on occasions but they were let down by enforced errors which prevented a free flowing game and more points.

Steyn was at it again shortly after restart as he found the middle of the poles to stretch Bulls’ lead further but Willem Alberts immediately reduced the deficit with Lions’ first try of the afternoon that was converted by Jantjies.

Out of nowhere, the match was even-stevens as the Lions scored their second try from the effort of centre Wandisile Simelane that was converted by Jantjies to leave the contest wide open.

It was not long before the home side re-established their lead through Johan Grobbelaar after the half hour mark when he touched down following a powerful driving maul.

Then, Stavino registered his second try of the afternoon to take the game out of reach of the Lions who missed out on a place in the final.

Bulls (11) 26

Lions (0) 21

Scorers

Bulls:

Tries: Stravino Jacobs (2), Johan Grobbelaar, Conversions: Morné Steyn (1), Penalties: Morné Steyn (3)

Lions:

Tries: Willem Alberts, Wandisile Simelane, Burger Odendaal Conversions: Elton Jantjies (3),