The Investec Champions Cup witnessed an extraordinary 16-try, 110-point showdown between the Bulls and Bristol Bears in Pretoria. The Bears dominated early, racing to a 21-0 lead within seven minutes and securing the bonus point in the opening 15 minutes. This high-octane match saw the Bears' Noah Heward score a hat-trick in the first half, while Stravino Jacobs contributed two tries for the Bulls, resulting in a 47-28 halftime score. The second half saw Bristol extend their lead to 61-35, but the Bulls threatened a comeback with late scores from Sebastian de Klerk and Willie le Roux. Despite the Bulls' valiant effort, Bristol's victory moved them to the top of Pool 4, setting up a potential home tie in the last 16. The match's high-scoring nature initially hinted at a potential record for aggregate points, but it fell just short of the 124-point record set in 1998-99 between Toulouse and Ebbw Vale. The Bulls and Bears shared 16 tries, matching the competition record for most tries by a single team in a match. The game's opening was explosive, with Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Max Lahiff scoring early, followed by Noah Heward's intercept and distance run. The Bulls' Jeandre Rudolph scored after 13 minutes, but Bristol's momentum remained intact, claiming the try bonus point after 15 minutes. Heward's second try showcased his acrobatic skills, and Kieran Marmion crossed, making the score 42-21 by 28 minutes. Jacobs was denied a hat-trick just before halftime due to a yellow card for Rich Lane, resulting in a penalty try for the Bulls. Heward completed his hat-trick in the first half, and Bristol led 47-28 at the break. David Kriel reduced the deficit to 12 points early in the second half, but Bristol responded with Pedro Rubiolo's try. Ravouvou's second try and De Klerk's score for the Bulls kept the match close, but Bristol's defense, including a crucial tap-tackle by Janse van Rensburg, prevented a 17th try. The match officials included Pierre Brousset as the referee, with Jeremy Rozier and Benjamin Hernandez as assistant referees, and Denis Grenouillet as the TMO. The line-ups for both teams are provided, with the Bulls' Le Roux and Bristol's Lane receiving yellow cards. The next fixtures are a crucial test for both teams, with Bristol hosting Bordeaux Begles and the Bulls traveling to Pau.
