Bulls Dominate Dragons 47-7 to Boost URC Play-off Hopes
Dragons faced a harsh reality check following their European success as Bulls solidified their position in the United Rugby Championship (URC) play-offs with a commanding 47-7 victory in Newport. The South Africans surged up the table from eighth to fifth, showcasing their strength with a seven-try performance. At halftime, Bulls led 12-7, with tries from scrum-half Embrose Papier and hooker Johan Grobbelaar, countering a spectacular score by Dragons centre Fine Inisi. After the break, flanker Marcell Coetzee quickly added to the tally, and replacement hooker Marco van Staden secured a four-try bonus in the 57th minute. The scoring continued late in the match with Van Staden’s second try, followed by scores from Devon Williams and Sergeal Petersen. Dragons, in their first home game since a February draw with Benetton, rotated their squad due to European exertions, resting key players like Aaron Wainwright, Ben Carter, and co-captain Angus O'Brien. Next week, Dragons will face Zebre, seeking their first league away win since 2022. Meanwhile, Bulls are focused on the URC, aiming for a total of 10 points from their Welsh tour, with a match against Scarlets on the horizon. Papier opened the scoring in the 11th minute after a dominant scrum, and although Dragons responded with a strong territorial performance, they fell short. A penalty attempt from Handre Pollard hit the post, but Grobbelaar capitalized on a line-out drive to extend the lead before halftime. Dragons had a potential comeback try ruled out for a knock-on, ultimately allowing Bulls to control the match and secure the victory.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-04-17