Bulls power past Dragons to boost URC play-offs bid

United Rugby Championship

Dragons (7) 7

Try: Inisi Con: C Evans

Bulls (12) 47

Tries: Papier, Grobbelaar, Coetzee, Van Staden 2, D Williams, Petersen Cons: Pollard 3, Kriel 3

Dragons were brought back down to earth after their European exploits as Bulls strengthened their bid for the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs.

The South Africans moved from eighth to fifth in the table thanks to a seven-try 47-7 victory against the Challenge Cup semi-finalists in Newport.

Bulls led 12-7 at half-time thanks to tries by scrum-half Embrose Papier and hooker Johan Grobbelaar either side of a super score by Dragons centre Fine Inisi.

Flanker Marcell Coetzee went over soon after the restart, before replacement hooker Marco van Staden secured the four-try bonus in the 57th minute.

Bulls then twisted the knife late on with Van Staden's second and scores by Devon Williams and Sergeal Petersen.

Dragons went into the fixture in high spirits thanks to a five-game unbeaten run on home soil and Challenge Cup wins at Stade Francais and Zebre.

However, the visiting play-off hopefuls started as strong favourites and had too much for Filo Tiatia's side, whose priority is now the 3 May European semi-final in Montpellier.

Dragons, in their first home fixture since the February draw with Benetton, opted to rotate their squad after their European exertions.

The key trio of Wales forwards Aaron Wainwright and Ben Carter plus co-captain Angus O'Brien were given a breather.

Dragons return to Zebre next weekend, presenting Tiatia with a selection dilemma.

They will hunt a first league away win since 2022 - and first outside Wales since 2021 - but must be cautious ahead of Montpellier.

Bulls, meanwhile, only have eyes for the URC and travelled fully loaded with the desire to claim 10 points from their Welsh tour, with a trip to Scarlets next up.

Papier opened the scoring in the 11th minute after a dominant scrum but Dragons responded well, dominating territory and going toe-to-toe with their physical visitors.

They got their reward when a strike play from a solid set-piece led to Tonga centre Inisi bursting through a hole in midfield for a leveller.

Double World Cup winner Handre Pollard struck the right post with a penalty as half-time approached - a sign of respect for Dragons' efforts - but Grobbelaar peeled off a line-out drive to make it 12-7 at the break.

Bulls restarted with an uncompromising approach and soon got their third try from close range when captain Coetzee went over, with a swift response from a lot further out by Dragons wing Jared Rosser chalked off for a knock-on in the build-up.