Blues 32 Bulls 17
The Blues are now the dark horse coming up fast on the rails. They proved that last night.
Old-fashioned commitment - blood and snotters rugby as it used to be called - was what took the Blues past the defending champions.
Their forwards will be sore from a bruising 80 minutes where they stood up to everything the Bulls had. The famed rolling maul never got a look in; the Blues sacked it at source.
They won the critical metre over the ball at the breakdown and Anthony Boric even pinched a lineout from Victor Matfield.
Fourie du Preez, the Bulls' tactical director, was never allowed to be the main attraction. In the dying minutes, the visitors' frustration was evidenced by a nasty late and high tackle on Alby Mathewson by Flip van der Merwe.
It was understandable. The Bulls came to play and were never allowed to. When they weren't being smashed about, the Bulls were forced to play at a tempo they couldn't sustain.
What will be worrying title contenders is the way the Blues were able to mix brutality with width. It made for effective rugby.
If the ball retention had been tighter and the last pass more accurate, the Blues would have won with the bonus point.
They were so in control and so obviously the better side.
Those waiting for the Blues to implode; for Stephen Brett to wilt; for the game plan to be thrown out; for the forwards to lose interest in their jobs and skulk on the wing might still be waiting at the end of the season.
The more the Blues play, the more convincing they become. Rene Ranger spilled his first pass inside his own 22. It was high risk and the Bulls profited.
There were more mistakes as they pushed the passes and ran from deep but no one cracked. The faith stayed strong and as the pace increased, it was obvious the Bulls couldn't stick it.
Pierre Spies is a rare athlete but he was shaded in impact by Viliami Ma'afu. If Ranger has been the find of the backs, Ma'afu has been the piece of coal plucked from the pack and refined into a diamond.
His work rate was immense and he never lost the ball. "In the first few weeks [of Super 14], I was just looking to do my job. I didn't want to make any mistakes but tonight, I wanted to get my hands on the ball."
His coach, Pat Lam, praised Ma'afu.
"He has waited six years to play at this level and he's such a great team man. He's 28 years old and makes good decisions. Even though he's new to this level, he's played in the position for a long time and that shows."
Ma'afu wasn't the only unlikely hero. With Tony Woodcock unable to start and John Afoa forced off early, the depth was tested when youngsters Charlie Faumuina and Tevita Mailau had to front.
Both were still battering forward in the final quarter and holding steady at the scrum. For Lam, that was a massive boost.
The Blues have played at breathtaking pace of late and last night's encounter with the Bulls had the extra toll of relentless collisions.
Without Ali Williams, they are short of experience and quality at lock which could be a factor in the closing weeks when the toll of the campaign will be telling for Boric and Kurtis Haiu who have been colossal.
At least Lam knows there is depth at prop. Given how much the Blues have surprised so far, it would be a big bet to say they won't surprise again.
Blues 32 (I. Toeava, J. Rokocoko tries; S. Brett 2 cons, 6 pens), Bulls 17 (P. Spies try; M. Steyn 3 pens, drop goal). Halftime: 16-11.
