The Pumas signaled their intentions for the season by thumping the Bulls 63-15 in the capital city to shoot to the top of the log with a bonus point.

The Pumas managed to score nine tries as they dismantled a fairly strong Bulls outfit. Diego Appollis scored a brace of tries for the defending champions.

Eduan Swart, Giovan Snyman, Sebastian de Klerk, Jade Stighling, Devon Williams, André Fouché and Francois Kleinhans were the other try scorers for the team from Nelspruit, while the two Cheetahs, Mihali Mosi and Cornel Hendricks, dotted down for the home side.

The Pumas coach, Jimmy Stonehouse, told OFM Sport that it was important to win away if they were to defend their title.

"It's obviously very important to get points on the log," said Stonehouse.

"The win was an extra with a big margin, and getting that point difference was very important.

"The biggest thing of all is that when we prepared for this, we knew the Bulls were going to pick a strong side because they had two losses and needed a win urgently.

"The preparation for that, especially for their bench and how we treated our replacements - we told our players that when they come on, they have to change the game and we focused on that."

In the weekend’s other games, the Cheetahs hammered the Griquas 42-19 in Kimberley, the Sharks beat the Griffons 32-16 in Durban and Western Province had no trouble in beating the Lions 44-28 in Johannesburg.

Scorers:

Bulls: Tries - Mihlali Mosi, Cornal Hendricks Conv. – Morné Steyn Pen. – Steyn

Pumas: Tries - Eduan Swart, Giovan Snyman, Sebastian de Klerk, Jade Stighling, Devon Williams, André Fouche, Diego Appollis 2, Francois Kleinhans Conv - Tinus de Beer 4, Giovan Snyman, Brandon Thomson Pen. - De Beer 2

Morgan Piek OFM Sport