Leinster dominate Bulls to strengthen URC table lead
Player-of-the-match Jack Conan was one of five second-half try scorers for Leinster in a dominant 47-14 United Rugby Championship win over the Vodacom Bulls at the RDS.
This top of the table clash was of Test match quality at times, with Leo Cullen’s men now nine points clear at the summit.
Johan Goosen impressed with three penalties and a try assist as the Bulls led 14-12 at half-time. Leinster captain Luke McGrath was sin-binned for a high tackle on try scorer Kurt-Lee Arendse.
However, having touched down initially through Josh van der Flier and Ronan Kelleher, the home side secured their bonus point by the 48th minute.
James Lowe and replacement Michael Milne did the damage, with Dan Sheehan, Conan and Liam Turner adding further tries past the hour mark.
Returning to the scene of their 2022 semi-final victory, the Bulls won two early scrum penalties and Goosen put three points on the board.
Although the 31-year-old fly-half made it 6-0 from just inside his own half, Leinster replied with an excellent 18th-minute try, started by Rob Russell and finished by Van der Flier under the posts.
When Bulls replacement Mpilo Gumede leaked a ruck penalty, a powerful lineout drive saw Kelleher extend the lead to 12-6.
However, Leinster were rocked when Arendse’s 35-metre run-in was immediately followed by McGrath’s yellow which could possibly have been a red.
Although Goosen landed his third penalty, 14-man Leinster, who had Jordan Larmour stepping in at scrum half, bagged their third try within five minutes of the restart.
It was a well-timed Joe McCarthy offload that sent Lowe over in the right corner. Harry Byrne swung over the difficult conversion.
With Larmour and Russell proving lethal in broken play, the newly-introduced Jamison Gibson-Park fed prop Milne to make it 26-14.
Despite Arendse and David Kriel both threatening, Sheehan showed his skills when kicking an overthrown Bulls lineout downfield, before winning a turnover penalty.
Milne released Sheehan to slide over in the 63rd minute after a bulldozing Conan carry. Replacement Ross Byrne’s conversion widened the margin to 19 points.
Number eight Conan broke Willie le Roux’s tackle for try number six. Arendse was unfortunate that his intercept score was ruled out for his apparent kick on Byrne beforehand.
It was left to Turner to complete the scoring via Russell’s return pass, with the elder Byrne tagging on his third successful kick.
Comments on RugbyPass
Kinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
4 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
4 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
4 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
2 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to comments