Bulls 21

Leinster 20

Brenden Nel reports from Loftus Versfeld

A MONSTER SCRUM after the final hooter ended Leinster’s unbeaten run in this year’s United Rugby Championship, allowing David Kriel to line up an 84th-minute penalty to give the Vodacom Bulls a dramatic 21-20 victory at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night.

The scrum, when Leinster simply had to get the ball in and out, and put it over the sideline, was a massive moment that changed the game, just minutes after forgotten man Ross Byrne looked to have given his side a famous first victory in the Pretoria altitude with a 43-metre penalty.

In a game that was nowhere near the contest it was billed to be, it was Leinster’s impressive defence that dismantled the Bulls attack, while impressive performances from the likes of Will Connors, Jordie Barrett and hometown boy RG Snyman made the Bulls look ordinary in their own fortress.

Considering Leinster were missing so many players after the Six Nations, coach Leo Cullen will be disappointed but not dismayed as they almost conquered the Highveld curse that cost them last year in the semi-final.

Leinster controlled most of the game, and will be unhappy they didn’t get more for their efforts other than Barrett’s opening try and Andrew Osborne’s early second-half score. Barrett capitalised after a simple error by the Bulls as a ball dropped between Stravino Jacobs and Embrose Papier and into the hands of Tommy O’Brien, with the recycled ball leading to Barrett’s try.

Scott Penny scored shortly afterwards but it was disallowed after Snyman held back Akker van der Merwe but in the second half Osborne ghosted in at the corner to let Leinster lead 17-6 and look as if they had virtually sewn up the game.

The Bulls maul started doing some real damage, leading to a penalty try and a yellow card for Tom Clarkson, and then a second try shortly afterward for Johan Grobbelaar.

But a moment of madness – as Sebastian de Klerk took out Osborne in the air and saw red for his troubles – looked to have turned it back in Leinster’s favour. Byrne slotted the penalty and Leinster started to count down the clock.

The Bulls scrum thought otherwise and powered their way to the penalty. And with it Leinster’s unbeaten run came to an end.

Bulls scorers:

• Tries: Penalty try, Johan Grobbelaar
• Penalties: Keagan Johannes (2), David Kriel

Leinster scorers:

• Tries: Jordie Barrett, Andrew Osborne
• Conversions: Ross Byrne (2)
• Penalties: Byrne (2)

Bulls: Willie le Roux; Sebastian de Klerk, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs; Keagan Johannes, Embrose Papier; Alulutho Tshakweni, Akker van der Merwe, Wilco Louw; Ruan Vermaak, JF van Heerden; Marcell Coetzee (capt), Jannes Kirsten, Cameron Hanekom.

Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Mornay Smith, Reinhardt Ludwig, Marco van Staden, Nizaam Carr, Zak Burger, Devon Williams.

Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien; Tommy O’Brien, Hugh Cooney, Jordie Barrett, Andrew Osborne; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath (capt); Jack Boyle, John McKee, Rabah Slimani; Diarmuid Mangan, RG Snyman; Max Deegan, Will Connors, James Culhane.

Replacements: Stephen Smyth, Ivan Soroka, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Alex Soroka, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley.

Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)