Dragons outpowered in second-half by play-off chasing South Africans
Filo Tiatia's side went down 47-7 at Rodney Parade
The Dragons were unable to back up their European exploits as a powerful second-half by the Bulls saw them lose 47-7 at Rodney Parade.
A week on from reaching the Challenge Cup semi-finals, the Dragons were back in United Rugby Championship with a daunting test against the play-off chasing South African side.
The Pretoria outfit were able to call upon a host of Springboks, while Filo Tiatia had rested his two most influential Wales internationals - Aaron Wainwright and Ben Carter - for their first home match in nearly two months.
Even with positivity high after reaching the last four in Europe, even the most optimistic Dragons supporter might have feared for their side heading into this one.
However, the Men of Gwent went about their business well in the first-half.
Having conceded after just 11 minutes when the Bulls' dominance up front saw Embrose Papier sneak over behind a powerful scrum, the home side responded well.
Long periods of dominating possession and territory looked to be ultimately fruitless, until centre Fine Inisi was put through a gap by wing Jared Rosser to finish off a lovely strike move.
The Bulls, having perhaps not leaned on their power game as much as you might have expected, did turn to it late in the first-half - with hooker Johan Grobbelaar diving over from a close-range maul to give them a five-point lead at the break.
Going back to basics, the Bulls wasted little time in extending their lead after the break.
Captain Marcell Coetzee crashed over after some powerful carries from close range.
The Dragons thought they had responded perfectly when wing Rosser raced around the full-back from halfway. However, the score was ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up.
It would be the Bulls who scored next, though, with Marco van Staden crashing over for the bonus point try.
Van Staden powered over for his second five minutes from time.
Some tired errors allowed Devon Williams to race over shortly after for the Bulls' sixth try late on.
Sergeal Petersen crossed at the death for the Bulls' fifth second-half score to wrap up their win.
Dragons: Cai Evans; Jared Rosser, Fine Inisi, Fetuli Paea, Rio Dyer; Tinus de Beer, Niall Armstrong; Wyn Jones, Elliot Dee, Chris Coleman, Levi Douglas, Seb Davies, Ryan Woodman, Harry Beddall, Harrison Keddie (capt).
Replacements: Oli Burrows, Rhodri Jones, Dillon Lewis, Matthew Screech, Thomas Young, Morgan Lloyd, Harri Ackerman, Huw Anderson.
Bulls: Devon Williams; David Kriel, Stedman Gans, Harold Vorster, Cana Moodie; Handre Pollard, Embrose Papier; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johann Grobbelaar, Francois Klopper, Cobus Wiese, Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetzee (capt), Elrigh Louw, Cameron Hanekom.
Replacements: Marco Van Staden, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Mornay Smith, Ruan Vermaak, Mpilo Gumede, Paul de Wet, Willie le Roux, Sergeal Petersen.
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
See how the action unfolded below:
Key Events
Well, it was spirited for quite some time.
But the play-off chasing Bulls are comfortable winners here.
The Dragons fall off some tackles and Sergeal Petersen crosses for the Bulls' third score in five minutes.
Not the way they wanted to end this match.
Some tired handling here.
Dillon Lewis' half-hearted tip-on pass goes to floor.
Bulls counter and Huw Anderson doesn't deal with a chip behind, allowing Devon Williams to race away.
From a lineout, the Bulls rumble towards the line - with van Staden powering over for his second.
Deliberate knock-on by the Bulls.
Fans want a card. Referee doesn't give one.
Cai Evans kicks the penalty dead.
Dragons get the ball out to Dyer again, but his chip ahead is marked.
Dragons should have a second.
From a penalty advantage, Inisi gets onto a cross-kick from Evans.
He looks to find Dyer inside but the pass doesn't stick.
He'd have been in from there.
This one has the feel of the job being done with 15 minutes to go.
Dragons still throwing things at the Bulls, but ultimately the result seems settled.
Dragons lose the ball in their own 22.
Under pressure on their own line, they're pinged under the sticks.
Bulls tap and go, with Marco van Staden powering over.
Rio Dyer does so well to claim a high ball.
The Dragons move it to the other side.
From nowhere, Rosser breaks through and finishes off a superb solo score.
However, there's a TMO check first. It's chalked off for a knock-on, with boos ringing around the ground.
Bulls get their maul rolling.
It's stopped short, but illegally.
However, the Dragons can't hold them out as Marcell Coetzee crashes over.
Bulls putting some pressure on the Dragons here.
Just running straight and hard.
They've clearly had some harsh words at half-time.
We're back underway...
Dragons with a chance just before half-time.
But the Bulls survive.
From the lineout, Johan Grobbelaar scores.
All too easy there.
Another penalty against Levi Douglas as he gets too keen at the breakdown.
Last thing the Dragons need now is the referee starting to build a picture against them after such a positive first-half.
Bulls, having gone for the posts last time, stick it in the corner here.
Levi Douglas is penalised for a late hit.
There's then a big cheer as the floodlights starte working.
Bulls go on to miss the penalty.
Bulls with some attacking pressure here.
They shorten the Dragons up, then let them off the hook again.
Few off the ball things too, which which become something later.
For now though, the Dragons survive.
Dragons' scrum, having held up fairly well for much of this half, is penalised again.
However, the Bulls continue to overcomplicate things when they get downfield.
Paea puts Inisi through a half-gap with a lovely tip-on pass.
The centre is isolated, but the Dragons somehow keep the ball.
Niall Armstrong spots space behind, but his kick just bounces too far.
The Dragons have been dominating possession and territory, but you just feared it was taking a lot of effort to not trouble the scorers.
Well, fear not!
A lovely first-phase move from a lineout sees Fine Inisi hit a lovely line off Rosser's pass and race away to score from halfway!
Dragons on the attack in the 22.
Some good dents, but it's undone by a loose pass that is hacked away.
Dragons going from scrum to lineout and back here.
Bulls putting the pressure on both.
The home side are holding up fairly well though.
Some big carries by Paea and Douglas for the Dragons, but the attack fizzles out as the support falls away.
The Bulls' kick is a little loose a few moments later, with hooker Elliot Dee taking it well in the air.
Bulls spill the kick-off. Scrum to the Dragons on the edge of the 22.
What can the Dragons do here?
Well, the Bulls nearly drive them off the ball, but the Dragons keep it and de Beer kicks through for Rio Dyer to chase.
He can't quite gather with the tryline in his sight.
Chance goes begging, there.
Bulls hammer away for a few phases.
There's another scrum coming. It goes down, the referee orders a reset.
Coleman pops up on the next one.
Third one is pretty much driven over the line, with scrum-half Embrose Papier sneaking over to score.
Dragons cough up possession in attack and the Bulls counter.
Rosser reads it well and steps in, but is a little overeager at the breakdown.
From the penalty, the Bulls move to just outside the Dragons 22.
They kick behind and de Beer gives up the scrum by taking it over his line.
From the scrum, the Bulls get a free-kick and go quickly.
Big test for the defence here.
Bulls try to run it from their own half, but end up getting pinged.
Chris Coleman is down with what appears to be a shoulder injury.
Dillon Lewis, after six months out, is seemingly about to come on.
However, Coleman just about recovers to continue.
Bulls nearly sneak through down the left wing.
But Jared Rosser does well to get back and get over the ball for a breakdown penalty.
Bulls clear their lines and Cai Evans runs it back into traffic.
Tinus de Beer then puts up a high ball, but it's straight out on the full.