Otago's Highlanders continued a fairytale start to their first Super Rugby championship with a deserved 35-28 victory over title holders Northern Bulls of South Africa Saturday.

The star-less team from Dunedin near the bottom of the south island became the first visiting team to win at Loftus Versfeld since compatriots Wellington Hurricanes 24 months ago.

It was the Bulls' first home defeat in 21 matches and their usually vocal followers spent much of the lively encounter in stunned silence as the sporting heroes of Pretoria played second fiddle to the tigerish Highlanders.

Spurred by an early try from outstanding flank Adam Thompson, Highlanders led 11-6 at half-time and took advantage of the Bulls being a man short early in the second half with flank Deon Stegmann sin binned to score two tries.

But they did not manage to bury the Bulls, who could have stolen a draw in the final minute as they piled pressure on 14-man Otago only for scrum-half Fourie du Preez to knock out five metres from the tryline.

A bonus-point victory for scoring four tries lifted Highlanders to 13 points after three rounds, level with South African outfit Coastal Sharks, who occupy first place because of a superior points difference.

"To defeat the Bulls at Loftus is a great feeling after no one gave us a chance. We may have no stars, but we contest every breakdown with fierce determination," boasted Highlanders prop and skipper Jamie MacKintosh.

Bulls captain and lock Victor Matfield did not spare his team-mates: "We were not good enough and our defence was shocking. We will be back in two weeks time after a bye but there is a lot of hard work to do first."

Highlanders knew it would be crazy to try and match the Bulls at their game of kicking and keeping the ball among the forwards so they ran at every chance and did not tire until a late Alando Soakai caution put them under pressure.

The South Africans, who have won three of the last four southern hemisphere championships, missed many tackles, committed countless handling errors and suffered a heavy defeat in the battle of the turnovers.

Wing Kado Poki (two), Thompson and lock Josh Bekhuis scored tries for Otago. Veteran fly-half Tony Brown kicked three conversions and a penalty when he replaced Robbie Robinson, who succeeded with two first-half penalty attempts.

Lock Flip van der Merwe, Du Preez and wing Bjorn Basson crossed the tryline for the Bulls and the other 13 points came from two conversions and three penalty goals off the boot of fly-half Morne Steyn.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP