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Leinster end hunt for silverware with URC win over Bulls
By PA
Leinster lifted their first trophy since 2021 after a convincing 32-7 BKT United Rugby Championship grand final win over the Pretoria Bulls at Croke Park.
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The wet weather failed to deter an attendance of 46,127 – a record for a league decider in Ireland – as Leo Cullen’s men became the first table-topping team to win the title in the URC era.
Despite Jamison Gibson-Park’s pre-match withdrawal, Leinster roared into a 19-0 half-time lead with tries from captain Jack Conan, Jordie Barrett and Josh van der Flier.
Beaten finalists in 2022 and 2024, the Bulls crossed in the 50th minute through replacement Akker van der Merwe to cancel out a Sam Prendergast penalty.
Prendergast took his haul to 10 points and replacement Fintan Gunne’s closing try was fittingly converted by the Gloucester-bound Ross Byrne.
Conan pointed the way for the hosts with a fifth-minute try, crashing over following an initial maul and Prendergast quickly converted.
Departing All Black Barrett got his right boot to Luke McGrath’s deft dink in the 13th minute, opening up the Bulls’ back-field to brilliantly score beside the posts.
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Van der Flier emerged through a maul to make it 19-0, as penalties continued to prove costly for the Bulls.
The South Africans finally got some momentum, battering away before Willie le Roux was guilty of a poor kick and then a forward pass.
Although Prendergast opened the second-half scoring, the visitors hit back when Van der Merwe drove over for Johan Goosen to convert.
It remained 22-7 with the Irish province failing to capitalise on a tap penalty, while Prendergast pushed another one wide.
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The young fly-half was back on target in the 67th minute and Gunne then scored from a neat wraparound move – a fine finish to the campaign for Leinster’s 12 British and Irish Lions representatives.
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Hope Leo the Lion got his medal.
Worked his bollocks off all game.
Great performance by him. He had didn’t have access all areas like in Aviva and had to do bigger laps often across seating.
Got the hill tickets in the end and a great view for €20 even if p1ssed on in the first half.
Leinster’s second try and holding Bulls out coming up to half time looked to be the key first half moments.