They held out for the win, that's something, and made Victor Matfield’s 100th Super 14 rugby cap a happier one but improvements will be required if they hope to sustain their momentum throughout the next phase of away fixtures. The Canes started like they'd prepped themselves for an upset and 15 – 10 at half time must have given them a double nostril sniff at claiming at least one win on their South African leg this year.

Some will say this was the Bulls poorest performance of the tournament but you have to give them credit for clawing back as they did. A mark of a champion side and proof that the Bulls indeed are dynamic enough to switch things up when under the cosh. Some teams stutter and lose, the Bulls splutter and win. That's the bottom line.

Considering the running try-fests of this weekends competition (Blues – Brumbies), this wasn't a high quality game. Down in the second half, the Bulls struck up close to the ruck fringes and got their rolling maul going. Not pretty but they looked to dominate and forced the Canes into errors.

Morne Steyn added points after two such forced errors to pull his side back and this was enough to shift the momentum for high drama and a nailbitter. The Canes started to wilt committing repeated infringements in the tight play and Victor Vito added to their woes getting pinged with a yellow carded in the 60th minute by Steve Walsh.

The Bulls capitalised although only to the tune of a slender lead – one point ahead at 19-18. The Canes then tried to throw the kitchen sink at the Bulls but failed repeatedly to land the knock-out blow. Hats off to the Bulls for weathering that mini-storm.

For the Bulls the win seals an unbeaten first leg of the tournament but it'll give their rivals hope and it seems just a matter of time before a crack might bring the dam wall down. That's the theory.

Opponents from Cape Town to Carisbrook will be saying the unstoppaBulls might be full of it ! WATCH THE VIDEO HERE