Johan Goosen added the additional two as he did in the case of Arendse and Burger’s tries to hand the Bulls a considerable 21-point buffer at the break.

Soon after the break the Bulls were back on the front foot. Burger was on hand to score his second.

Just when it looked the Bulls may open the flood gates they suffered a setback when Goosen was yellow carded for making head contact in a tackle in the 51st minute. He was perhaps fortunate the sanction wasn’t worse.

Connacht failed to capitalise. Sure, they showed attacking intent but they lacked composure when they got into striking distance. They were frustrated by the Bulls at the breakdown where Marco van Staden in particular made a real nuisance of himself.

It wasn’t until Bulls substitute Jan-Hendrik Wessels was sin binned for a ridiculously late tackle that Connacht sprung to life.

Tries by Jack Aungier and David Hawkshaw didn’t so much get them back in the game as lend their score respectability.

Scorers

Bulls (28) – Tries: Zak Burger (2), Kurt-Lee Arendse, Marcell Coetzee. Conversions: Johan Goosen (4).

Connacht (14) – Tries: Jack Aungier, David Hawkshaw. Conversions: David Hawkshaw (2).