Ospreys’ hopes of a United Rugby Championship (URC) play-off spot were dented as they fell well short of leaving South Africa with two wins as Bulls’ power and pace proved too much.
The Welsh team had won at Stormers last weekend, but came nowhere near repeating that feat in Pretoria where the hosts emphatically boosted their bid for a play-off spot.
The hosts reached the bonus point before the break and ended with seven touchdowns and a penalty try against game, but overpowered Ospreys.
Johan Grobbelaar’s early try from a line-out drive and Chris Smith’s conversion set the tone.
David Kriel crossed for the second and after Ospreys rallied with Luke Davies’ try, Kurt-Lee Arendse added the hosts’ third.
Canan Moodie earned the bonus point and added his second try soon after the break.
Embrose Papier went clear before Arendse completed his brace. A penalty try for Max Nagy’s deliberate knock on close to the line compounded the visitors’ problems and Willie Le Roux added another.
Bulls fly-half Smith kicked six conversions for the hosts.
The visitors welcomed back Wales hooker Dewi Lake via the bench following his recovery from a hamstring strain.
Amid six starting changes to the side that beat Stormers 27-21 in Cape Town last weekend Ospreys recalled Wales forwards Justin Tipuric, Adam Beard and Gareth Thomas while Bulls were without suspended fly-half Johan Goosen.
Wing Luke Morgan made is 100th Ospreys appearance.
After’s Grobbelaar’s score from a 15m line-out drive, Jack Walsh had a chance to put the visitors on the scoreboard, but after the ball fell off the tee his rushed penalty attempt rebounded off an upright.
Powerful running from Bulls forwards was a constant threat with number eight Cameron Hanekom particularly prominent.
Centre Kriel was set free to stroll over, but Ospreys underlined their ball-in-hand threat as Morgan Morris paved the way for scrum-half Davies’ impressive response.
However, Davies’ opposite number Papier’s long pass found Arendse free out wide.
Ospreys found themselves in further trouble just at the moment they looked set to end the opening period on a high.
Prop Chris Henry’s pass was picked off by Kriel and Moodie was on hand for another simple stroll in for Bulls.
Moodie’s second try within three minutes of the restart.
But Papier’s simple score left Ospreys with a huge task even before Keiran Williams’ try after Nagy’s clever chip and gather provided some light relief for Toby Booth’s side.
Things got tougher for the visitors when Nagy conceded the penalty score, although wing Giles produced a spectacular finish as he touched down while being tackled at the corner.
Willie Le Roux ran from his deep in his own 22 for another home intercept score – this time off Keiran Williams – as Bulls denied Ospreys’ bid for a bonus-point score.