Defending Super 14 champions the Bulls were humbled 50-22 by the Wellington Hurricanes in Pretoria on Saturday.

The Hurricanes played precision rugby and seized the advantage early on, running in four tries in the first quarter.

Bulls flyhalf Derick Hougaard kicked a seventh-minute penalty, but the skills and hard-running of Wellington backs Jimmy Gopperth, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith tipped the scales in their favour.

Gopperth fed Nonu, on the cutback, for the first try in the fourth minute, the centre running through some ineffectual tackles. More good work from Gopperth and Smith set up flanker Chris Masoe for the second try six minutes later.

An error in the Bulls midfield defence let Nonu through a gap in the 17th minute, with Smith going over for the try with the support of his forwards.

The lack of organisation in the Bulls team gifted the bonus point try to the Hurricanes, Nonu intercepting a telegraphed pass by lock Bakkies Botha on the halfway line and winning the race for the line.

The Bulls did show some enthusiasm for the fight for the rest of the first half, helped by the Hurricanes having centre Smith and flanker Jerry Collins yellow-carded for persistent offside play.

The Bulls's first try came after 29 minutes when number eight Pierre Spies went over from a five-metre scrum.

There was a little respite for the disorganised Bulls in the third quarter as the Hurricanes added just a Gopperth penalty, but Smith and fullback Corey Jane then began tearing them apart again with replacement hooker Hikawera Elliot, wing Shannon Paku and Jane himself crossing for tries in the space of seven minutes.

The Bulls did not go down without a late fight, however, prop Jaco Engels and flank Wikus van Heerden painting a rosier glow to the scoreline as they set each other up for tries in the last six minutes.

Gopperth, apart from directing the Wellington backline with terrific vision and skill, added five conversions and a penalty with his boot.

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