Slower out of the blocks than a student for an early morning lecture, the Highlanders gave the Bulls too much of a head start in Pretoria yesterday.
It was apt the gap was 15 points between the sides at the end, because conceding three tries at the start was ultimately the killer for the Highlanders.
Missing 10 tackles in almost as many minutes at the beginning of the game put the visitors into a deep hole.
They were down 21-0 after only 11 minutes, and never got closer than 15 points.
A massacre was threatening, but to the Highlanders' credit, they showed some resolve, muscled up on defence and scored five tries themselves.
The Bulls are masters at the basics: kicking, running hard and jumping on errors.
Their kick-and-chase game can not be faulted and more than half of their tries yesterday could be directly linked to their ability to regather their own kicks.
Bulls first five-eighth Morne Steyn may not be the most exciting of players but on the high veldt, his accurate boot is a constant danger.
Teamed with halfback Fourie du Preez, he drove the home side forward and the duo started out like a house on fire.
The first 11 minutes was the sort of nightmare for the Highlanders that even Stephen King's pen would have found hard to scribble.
The Bulls were rolling at their very best and the Highlanders were chasing shadows.
Hooker Gary Botha scored the first try after a good run by lock Danie Rousouw and that was quickly followed by five-pointers to wingers Francois Hougaard and Gerhard van der Heever.
It looked like the busiest men in the ground would be the scoreboard attendants.
But the Highlanders finally started making tackles and getting a bit of ball, and they soon found some holes in the Bulls defence.
The Bulls seemed to go into their shell as the game went on, and were not able to dictate play so easily.
Fullback Israel Dagg scored three tries for the Highlanders, and had an outstanding match.
His first try came after 17 minutes and was through good midfield defence by the backline, which turned over the ball from a Bulls attack.
It was moved right and Dagg scampered 70m to score.
The Hawkes Bay product scored his second try after a good blindside move from a scrum with three minutes left in the first half and his last five pointer right near the end, charging over from 5m out, after quickly taking a free kick.
The Highlanders' other tries came from flanker Tim Boys, after a nice, long pass from centre Kendrick Lynn, and replacement back Robbie Robinson, who nabbed the other with 12 minutes left.
The ball was moved left after a turnover and substitute winger James Paterson chipped ahead of the last defender, and Robinson won the race to the ball.
Others to impress for the visitors were Lynn, and Jason Shoemark inside him, while Josh Bekhuis got through plenty of work up front and the scrum was solid.
Best for the home side were Steyn and No 8 Pierre Spies, while Victor Matfield, in his 50th game as captain of the Bulls, showed his class.
