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The Blues' Super 14 rugby prospects will go down to the wire after they were gored 40-19 by the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria this morning (NZ time).
An error-ridden performance from the New Zealand side saw them crash to their third consecutive heavy defeat against South African opponents while the Bulls enjoyed their third straight sizeable win.
Victory was built around resolute defence and the ability to sniff out scoring chances while the Blues failed to capitalise on a sizeable advantage in possession.
Down 0-9 after 10 minutes, the Bulls proceeded to outscore the Blues 40-3 up until the final minute of the game when visiting captain Troy Flavell crossed for a consolation try.
By that stage his side had been frustrated out of the contest by a Bulls team who picked up a bonus point for scoring four tries to leave the two teams tied on 37 competition points.
Other results this weekend and in next week's final round will help to determine their fate but the Blues now will need to beat the Force in Perth to ensure they qualify for the semifinals.
All looked rosy for the visitors early on today as they capitalised on a slew of early penalties awarded them by referee Stuart Dickinson.
However, after first five-eighth Isa Nacewa landed three penalties and missed another, his opposite Derick Hougard landed two in response as basic errors in handling and concentration began to punctuate the Blues' game.
Loose forwards Wikus van Heerden and Pedrie Wannenburg both crossed before halftime to give the hosts a 20-9 advantage.
The second try was a killer blow, coming when the ball shot out of a Blues scrum on halfway, allowing outstanding Bulls halfback Fourie Du Preez to shoot down the blind and set up Wannenburg.
The Blues had a mortgage on possession through the third quarter of the match but only had another Nacewa penalty to show for it before the Bulls made certain of victory 13 minutes from the end.
Du Preez was again the key figure, pouncing a dropped ball to scamper 40m.
The best try of the game went to his replacement, Heini Adams, after a brilliant 80m counter in which winger Bryan Habana displayed his renowned pace.
Hougaard even had time to pop over a dropped goal to round out a perfect 20-point return with the boot.
A Nacewa pop pass sent lock Flavell over after the final hooter but they and their team will have plenty to think about as they fly to Perth for what could yet be their final game of the season.
Flavell couldn't put his finger on why his team's season had been spiralling downwards.
"We've found it quite hard," he told Supersport television.
"Our preparation's been great and tonight it was a case of handling errors really costing us again.
"In that second half the Bulls came up with some good defence and they really put the pressure on us and caused us to cough up that ball."
Flavell said it was time for his team to lift another level, just as their main rivals had been doing in recent weeks.
"It's the business end of the competition now and the Bulls played with that desperation, they played extremely well.
"We're still right in this competition and we've got to get on that plane and begin our prep for the Western Force.
"Composure and confidence are the words we've used within our environment and that's something we want to carry through to next week and put it on the field. "It could be our last game next week, no one knows."
