The Bulls will be back to fight another day though, he warned.

“We were beaten at the breakdown today. We also did not handle their physicality very well,” Maftield said of the loss, the first one the defending champions have suffered this year.

“We did not play well today. Credit to the Blues, who really gave it to us, but we lacked some spark today. I am not sure why we had a bad second week on tour. We will regroup and be strong again next week,” he said.

The Bulls were 16-11 down at the break and were still in with a chance with the score at 19-17, but two Stephen Brett penalties and a try by Joe Rokocoko snuffed out any possibility of the Bulls extending their 12-match Vodacom Super 14 winning streak.

Two yellow cards against second half-replacements, Pedrie Wannenburg and Flip van der Merwe, added to the Bulls woes.

The Bulls scored the first try of the match through Pierre Spies and were 8-6 up at the time, after Mornè Steyn and Brett traded penalties.

Brett then edged the Blues ahead with another penalty as the Bulls found referee Craig Joubert in an unforgiving mood at the breakdown.

Steyn’s first drop goal of the season had the Bulls up again, but poor play from the restart resulted in a try by Isaia Toeava. Brett’s conversion put his side up 16-11 at the break.

The second half started well for the Bulls with Steyn kicking a penalty.

He traded another with Brett, but some clumsy play by the Bulls after a quick throw-in at the lineout, allowed Joe Rokocoko to score and close the Bulls out of the game.

Scorers:

Blues 32 (16). Tries: Isaia Toeava, Jo Rokocoko. Conversions: Stephen Brett (2). Penalties: Brett (6).

Bulls 17 (11). Try: Pierre Spies. Penalties: Mornè Steyn (3). Drop goal: Steyn.