Specman hat-trick gives Bulls first win, Sharks go top

Rosko Specman scored a quickfire hat-trick to get the Bulls off the mark in Super Rugby with a 38-13 victory over the Highlanders, while the Sharks went top of the standings.

The Bulls arrested their worst start to a season since 2002 with a stunning second-half display that saw Specman run in three tries in the space of 16 minutes.

Josh Ioane scored all of the Highlanders' points, with his second penalty early in the second half – the Bulls changed shirts at the break to avoid a colour clash – sending the Dunedin franchise 13-5 up.

Specman's first of the match gave the Bulls their first lead of the game and he crossed twice more before Cornal Hendricks rounded off the scoring at the death.

It's only fitting that we leave this here! Specmagic is back! Hat-trick hero! pic.twitter.com/TNB6POelTe
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) March 7, 2020

The Highlanders have now lost their last four away games against South African opposition and sit eight points adrift of the Hurricanes at the bottom of the New Zealand conference.

The Bulls moved above the Lions and nine points behind the third-placed Jaguares, who suffered a 33-19 loss away to the Sharks.

Hyron Andrews, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Andre Esterhuizen and Kerron van Vuuren crossed for the hosts and Curwin Bosch had 13 points off the tee.