Will the Bulls' decision to allow Glasgow Warriors a bonus point haunt them in the long run?

As good as the Bulls were in beating the Warriors in Glasgow at the weekend, they may rue the way the game ended because they gifted the home team a precious United Rugby Championship bonus point.

With time up on the clock, the Bulls were awarded a penalty well within kicking range. They were leading 26-19 and an additional three points would have meant no losing bonus point for Glasgow. Instead, Willie le Roux nudged the penalty into touch to end the game.

If the defending champions had taken no log points from the match, the Bulls would be tied with them in second spot on 58 points. Instead the Bulls remain in third place, with Glasgow a point ahead of them on 59.

The one point could prove the difference between a home semi-final (the reward for the top two teams) and an away one.

But nothing should be taken away from the Bulls’ stunning demolition of the champions. Coach Jake White had said during the week that this match was not about revenge for his team’s shock defeat to Glasgow in last year’s URC final in Pretoria, but behind closed doors there is no doubt the Bulls players discussed the hurt they suffered at the hands of the Warriors.

It could be seen in the Bulls’ physicality on defence. They have never been shrinking violets in this regard but this was next level.

There was a clear refusal to lose in the way the players threw themselves into tackles. Tight forwards ran like backs to make cover tackles, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels in particular hurtling about the field like a human wrecking ball.

The Bulls return home from their successful tour with their confidence immeasurably boosted by striking wins in Bayonne, Munster and Glasgow. There were several “firsts” for the Bulls, including registering South Africa’s first ever URC wins in Munster and Glasgow.

Remarkably, the Munster win gave the Bulls a full-house of victories this season over the four Irish provinces — they have also beaten Connacht (away), Leinster and Ulster.

Speaking of Leinster, the second-placed Warriors have to play the log leaders in Dublin in one of their two remaining league fixtures. The Warriors finish with a tricky away match to Benetton.

The Bulls have a softer finish, with home games against Cardiff and the Dragons, and they will feel a second-place finish on the log is well within reach.