PRETORIA, South Africa (AP)Flyhalf Gareth Anscombe scored all the points as Auckland Blues overcame their early season struggles with a gutsy 29-23 win at the Bulls in Super 15 rugby on Saturday.

Anscombe inspired the New Zealand team to a first victory in three games with two tries, two conversions and five penalties at Loftus Versfeld.

The 20-year-old newcomer broke away in the second minute after intercepting a loose ball and finished a flowing Blues counterattack in the 38th as the visitors stunned their fellow three-time Super rugby champions at the Bulls home ground.

The Bulls launched a late charge with wing Bjorn Basson crossing for two second-half tries and an off-form Morne Steyn landed a touchline conversion after the hooter for a losing bonus point for the South African team, which slipped to its first defeat this season.

Anscombe began his outstanding personal performance by snatching possession in the opening moments after Bulls center Francois Venter juggled a pass in midfield and going 60 meters unchallenged for the first score.

His angled run after a length-of-the-field break from the Blues took him through a hole to score as the visitors opened a 20-8 gap at halftime.

The Blues held off the Bulls late fightback and Anscombe outkicked Springboks flyhalf Steyn, landing seven from nine shots at goal at the intimidating Pretoria venue. Steyn could only manage three from seven in a rare off-day.

Its a pretty daunting debut at this stadium, Anscombe said. The forwards fronted up and luckily I banged over a few goals and took some opportunities.

The Blues also rode a wave of pressure from the Bulls late in the first half as well as the closing stages, and recovered from an early yellow card to lock Ali Williams for a first victory of 2012 after opening with losses to Canterbury and Waikato.

The Bulls put us under a lot of pressure. When you come up here its all about the arm wrestle and staying in there, captain Keven Mealamu said. Every minute of this competition youre going to have to work for every point and it came off for us today.

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Anscombe leads Auckland to 29-23 win over Bulls