Leinster Impress As Wait For Glory Ends – URC Final Review
Leinster ended their four-year wait for a major title as they put the Blue Bulls to the sword in an emphatic display in the United Rugby Championship (URC) Final on Saturday.
Leinster Rugby
Vodacom Bulls
Conan (5'), Barrett (13'), Flier (22'), Gunne (72')
Tries
Merwe (50')
Prendergast (6', 13'), Byrne (73')
Conversions
Goosen (50')
Prendergast (44', 67')
Penalties
Leinster ended their four-year wait for a major title as they put the Blue Bulls to the sword in an emphatic display in the United Rugby Championship (URC) Final on Saturday.
Having watched their team fall in finals and semifinals, Leinster’s fans can now enjoy the fruits of their dominance for the first time since 2021.
Jack Conan, Jordie Barrett and Josh Van der Flier scored tries in the first half as Leinster took an iron grip with a 19-0 lead.
After the break, the Bulls rallied and scored through Akker van der Merwe, but Fintan Gunne’s late try put any hopes of a late comeback firmly to bed.
Leinster are the fourth URC champions in four years, and they did it without injured British and Irish Lions tourists Jamison Gibson-Park, Hugo Keenan, and Tadhg Furlong.
That is scant consolation for the Bulls and their World Cup winning coach Jake White, who lost to Glasgow Warriors in 2024.
BUSINESS AS USUAL
With the vast majority of the 46,127 fans at Dublin’s Croke Park behind them, Leinster came out flying.
Within five minutes, they were ahead. A penalty went to the corner, the lineout secured and after the maul rolled up to the line British and Irish Lions tourist Jack Conan crashed over.
The Bulls showed their early nerves. Centre Harold Vorster was lucky to avoid a yellow card after a clash with Joe McCarthy, while flyhalf Johan Goosen was off target with kicks from hand.
They were punished again when scrumhalf Luke McGrath chipped over for Barrett to race onto, welly forward into the empty space behind the Bulls’ defensive line, and finish.
Van der Flier’s try came from another penalty, lineout, and rolling maul combination, and while the Bulls raised their intensity before the break, Leinster’s blue wall held out.
STRETCHING THE LEAD
Leinster flyhalf Sam Prendergast slotted a penalty to stretch his team’s lead to beyond three converted tries early in the second half.
The Bulls finally got on the scoresheet with a classic Leinster try, driving van der Merwe over from a lineout and maul, but Prendergast scored the next points with his second penalty.
Then came Gunne’s finish.
It was a simple but beautifully executed backline move. The young scrumhalf hit a perfect line, showed great pace to force his way over and give Leinster something to cheer after a barren and confidence sapping four years.
Leinster Rugby Starting XV (1-15) Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tom Clarkson, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Sam Prendergast, James Lowe, Jordie Barrett, Garry Ringrose, Tommy O'Brien, Jimmy O'Brien
Leinster Rugby Replacements (16-23) Ronan Kelleher, Jack Boyle, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Fintan Gunne, Ross Byrne, Jamie Osborne
Vodacom Bulls Starting XV (1-15) Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johann Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw, Cobus Wiese, JF van Heerden, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Marcell Coetzee, Embrose Papier, Johan Goosen, Sebastian de Klerk, Harold Vorster, David Kriel, Canan Moodie, Willie le Roux
Vodacom Bulls Replacements (16-23) Akker van der Merwe, Alulutho Tshakweni, Mornay Smith, Jannes Kirsten, Nizaam Carr, Zak Burger, Keagan Johannes, Devon Williams