Bulls thrash Stormers in Super Rugby

Sevens veteran Rosko Specman has scored two tries on debut on his Super Rugby debut as the Bulls brushed aside the Stormers 40-3 in a derby that is normally South Africa's most fiercely contested.

The visiting Stormers were second best after they forced a 20-minute delay to the start of the game at Loftus Versfeld with their bus was caught in traffic.

The contest was as good as over inside the opening 25 minutes with the hosts crossing for three of their four tries - with Specman touching down in the third and 18th - to take an unassailable advantage.

The Bulls were ferocious in their tackling and showed more intensity than their out-gunned opponents, putting in an impressive defensive effort with Springboks No.8 Duane Vermeulen leading from the front.

The Stormers lost captain Siya Kolisi in the 27th minute after he failed a head injury assessment, by which time the visitors were already 21-3 down.

Winger Johnny Kotze (23rd) and centre Jesse Kriel (44th) scored the other tries for the hosts while flyhalf Handre Pollard contributed 20 points with the boot and controlled the tempo of the game with his tactical kicking.