Two intercept tries in the first half sent the Bulls to a 48-14 win over the Hurricanes in Super Rugby on Saturday, putting the three-time champions back on top of the South African conference.

Centre JJ Engelbrecht and winger Akona Ndungane capitalised on adventurous passes by New Zealand’s Hurricanes for two of three first-half tries for the Bulls, who then powered past a brief fightback in the second.

The Wellington-based Hurricanes came back from 27-0 down at the break to 34-14 with two tries by scrumhalf TJ Perenara.

It wasn’t enough to worry the fast-starting Bulls, who returned to the top three in the overall standings with a six-try victory at Loftus Versfeld as forwards Deon Stegmann and Dean Greyling and replacements Lionel Mapoe and Louis Fouche also crossed.