The west Walians had levelled the score at 26-26 before the Bulls pulled away to win 54-26

The Scarlets had no answer for the Bulls' power as they were beaten 54-26 in Pretoria.

Nigel Davies' side had worked their way back into the game, coming back from 19-0 down to level the scores at 26-26. However, the South Africa side eased to victory with 28 unanswered points in the final quarter - although the Scarlets did earn a four-try bonus point.

A week after pushing the Stormers all the way in Cape Town, the west Walians were looking for a similar fighting performance as they moved on to Pretoria.

However, they were without three more Wales internationals - with Taine Plumtree, Joe Hawkins and Macs Page having flown back home last week.

There was further disruption, with Ioan Jones forced out close to kick-off - leaving scrum-half Archie Hughes to cover wing.

The Bulls started strongly, scoring three tries in the opening 30 minutes.

Jeandre Rudolph powered over for the opening score after 11 minutes.

Then, minutes later, Springbok Willie le Roux extended the home side's lead.

A flowing move from their own 22 saw Dylan Maart cross for the Bull's third - with the Scarlets fearing the worst at that point.

However, they responded well.

First, hooker John McKee crossed out wide after quick hands from Ioan Nicholas and Gabe McDonald.

Then, as half-time was approaching, Alex Groves broke through the line before feeding Gareth Davies.

He found Fletcher Anderson in support, who shifted the ball onto Sam Lousi to score.

Unfortunately, the back-row injured himself in the act of reaching over.

The Scarlets then appeared to have drawn themselves level when Leggatt-Jones' chip was gathered by Nicholas, who put scrum-half Davies over.

However, Davies was deemed to be offside.

The disallowed score proved a turning point. From the penalty, the Bulls got themselves into the 22 - with Marcell Coetzee forcing his way over from close range.

Makeshift winger Hughes then created a chance from nothing, desperately chasing his own kick through - only for the TMO to judge that both he and a Stormers player grounded it simultaneously.

Bulls centre Stedman Gans was then sent to the sin-bin for a trip on Josh Macleod to cap an action-packed opening 10 minutes of the second-half.

Against 14 men, Leggatt-Jones pulled the strings in attack to find space for Hughes to score out wide.

The Scarlets took further advantage of the yellow card, drawing level after Nicholas stepped his way through the Bulls' defence, allowing replacement Dane Blacker to put Joe Roberts over.

Unfortunately, Coetzee burrowed over for his second try to ensure the Bulls ended the sin-bin period still in front.

Another Bulls replacement, Sebastian de Klerk then burst through the Scarlets' line to score.

Any hopes of a Scarlets comeback were extinguished when Johan Grobbelaar forced his way over for the Bulls' seventh 12 minutes from time.

Maart then spun through a couple of tackles to add his second and the Bull's eighth score.