The Lions ran out comfortable 38-12 winners over the Bulls at Ellis Park on Saturday to set up a home Super Rugby quarterfinal next week.
The Lions were stunned into action after two moments of brilliance from the Bulls inside the first ten minutes.
First, flyhalf Manie Libbok ghosted through a gap and ran 60 metres to open the scoring before Jesse Kriel added a second for the visitors with an equally good individual effort.
Facing a 12-point deficit, the Lions consolidated with Ruan Combrinck finishing off a team try in the 18th minute to drag his side back into the contest. That try saw Malcolm Marx’s men take hold of the match and it was the hooker himself who levelled matters after muscling over in the 32nd minute.
Courtnall Skosan then completed the turnaround as the hosts led 19-12 at the break and on track for a home quarter-final.
The second period was a scrappy affair with both sides committing a number of self-enforced errors to hamper any constructive work towards the try line. The Bulls unsatisfactory season dragged to a slow end as they fell further behind in the 64th minute, this time after a dominant Lions scrum left the referee no alternative.
The TMO was then called into action just two minutes later to confirm Combrinck’s second try was legitimately finished off.
Bulls wing Travis Ismaiel was denied a consolation try in the 70th minute after yet another infringement was correctly spotted by the TMO. The visitors miserable afternoon was compounded at the death as Aphiwe Dyantyi capped the Lions regular season with a sixth try to send them into their playoff encounter with the Jaguares full of confidence.
Scorers: Lions 38 (19): Tries: Ruan Combrinck (2), Malcolm Marx , Courtnall Skosan, Penalty try, Aphiwe Dyantyi. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (2), Andries Coetzee.
Bulls 12 (12): Tries: Manie Libbok , Jesse Kriel. Conversion: Manie Libbok.