The Bulls have had to fight to hold off a fast-finishing Lions side 24-20 in their all-South Arican Super Rugby clash in Johannesburg.
Beginning their quest for a fourth Super title in five years, the Bulls looked to be cruising before the Lions, who lost all 13 matches last year and trailed 24-5 at half-time, staged a stirring second-half comeback.
The hosts outscored the Bulls by three tries to two and kept them scoreless in the second half but the champions held out for the tense win.
Elsewhere the Sharks beat the Cheetahs 24-9 in Durban.
