The Vodacom Bulls put on an exceptional display of power rugby as they smashed their neighbours, the 10bet Lions 57-15 in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship Round 3 fixture at a sweltering Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The sun may have brought a beautiful 32 degree Spring day for the fixture, but it was the Bulls that brought the heat as they pounced on a disciplinary error to pull away in the first half and then continued their dominance in the second to post a massive score in the Jukskei derby.
FT in the derby. Gauteng is Blue 💙 @Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA https://t.co/fias95OQyt
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) October 10, 2026
And it wasn’t that the Lions were that poor either. For periods in either half they threatened the Bulls, but the home side was too clinical, had too much resolve and kept on winning the collisions to stop the normally dangerous Lions attack before it did any damage.
As he game wore on the Bulls pack got on top, started milking penalties off the setpiece and were exceptionally clinical when they got the chance - scoring nine tries in the 80 minutes and even had another disallowed.
There may have been some question-marks about how their Springboks would fit in, but with Cameron Hanekom winning a well-deserved man of the match award, and several of the Boks starring - including Canan Moodie - the difference in handling from this game to the Bulls loss against Munster was clear to see.
It isn’t often these days that the Lions meet their match like this, but credit must go to the Bulls for doing their homework, and ensuring that there wasn’t a shock like the same fixture last season when the Lions won a shootout 43-33.
STRANGE DECISION ON MOODIE BEING UPENDED
And the Lions were lucky. Referee Hanru van Rooyen decided not to send Siba Mahashe to the sin bin early in the second half when Moodie was upended in a high ball challenge that certainly looked worthy of a card.
Van Rooyen decided that although Mahashe didn’t win the contest, his fingers did touch the ball, and therefore it was “unfortunate” that Moodie flipped over and landed badly.
But since Mahashe never won the contest in the air, surely it was his responsibility - as the law tells us - that he needed to ensure Moodie landed better.
Despite TMO Aimee Barrett-Theron pointing this out to Van Rooyen he decided it wasn’t worthy of any sanction.
Other referees are likely to disagree and the decision brings question to how a player who upends another can’t be penalised because a finger touched the ball, even if everything else he did was wrong?
But on the hot afternoon the Lions again started exceptionally well, so much so that they controlled territory and possession in the opening quarter hour, and were leading as well, but some cynical play in desperation cost them dearly as the Bulls capitalised and were able to pull away to get their bonus point before halftime.
KRAPPIES YELLOW WAS CRUCIAL
The crucial moment came after the Lions were leading 7-5 in the 26th minute, where the Bulls got a tap free kick and Paul de Wet sent Bok Canan Moodie down the far touch.
Moodie returned the favour for De Wet to be pulled down just before the line, with Johan Grobbelaar picking up and diving over for the try.
Replays showed that as De Wet tried to place the ball, it was slapped out of his hand by Springbok Morne van den Berg, earning the Bok halfback 10 minutes in the bin.
And boy, did the Bulls make those 10 minutes count. While the first 20 saw a chip and collect try to Harold Vorster, answered by Siba Qoma driving over from a shrewd lineout move for the visitors, the gates opened when the Lions were down to 14.
Hanekom crossed twice in those 10 minutes, while all the Lions could contribute was a Chris Smith penalty.
Hanekom’s first came from a lineout move that saw Sebastian de Klerk scythe through the midfield with way too much ease, and Camdog - as he is known in the team - simply was there to finish.
BRUTAL HANDOFF BY CAMDOG
His second though, will be talked about at Loftus for a long time to come.
De Wet again sent the ball perfectly into Hanekom’s hands, and the No.8 burst through with only Richard Kriel in front of him.
Hanekom decided to go on his outside, brutally handing off Kriel, tossing him to the ground and he thundered his way into goal.
"Suka Richard Kriel!" 😤 Cameron Hanekom is all power 💪 📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw https://t.co/7VjuZw9UIq
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) October 10, 2026
When Van den Berg departed it was 12-7, and when he returned it was 24-10 and the whole complexity of the game shifted.
Jeandre Rudolph added his name to the scoresheet before halftime and it was clear the Lions were in trouble at 31-10 down at the break.
Moodie scored early in the second half, thanks to a brutal lineout maul and two bullet long passes from Curwin Bosch and Willie le Roux to give him enough space to run in at the near touchline, further extending the Bulls' lead.
The Canan effect 🔥 Vodacom Bulls 36-15 10Bet Lions @Vodacom #URC | @URCOfficial_RSA https://t.co/hHHCiQy35w
— Official Blue Bulls (@BlueBullsRugby) October 10, 2026
The Lions had some success and a series of penalties saw them finally get over the line through Morne Brandon from a maul, although that was the last time they would trouble the scorers.
From there on they got close a few times, but never were clinical, while the Bulls were simply the opposite.
Cheswill Jooste was the grateful recipient of a Handre Pollard pinpoint cross kick, but the try was chalked off when the TMO found obstruction at the lineout, but he was able to grab it later when Pollard stabbed a ball through for him to pounce on.
In between, JF van Heerden scored as things went from bad to worse for the Lions, while Sebastian de Klerk extended the rout with a try on full time.
SCORERS
Vodacom Bulls - tries: Harold Vorster, Johan Grobbelaar, Cameron Hanekom (2), Canan Moodie, Jeandre Rudolph, JF van Heerden, Cheswill Jooste, Sebastian de Klerk. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (3), Handre Pollard (3).
10bet Lions - tries: Siba Qoma, Morne Brandon. Conversion: Chris Smith. Penalty: Smith.