Leinster’s 17 game unbeaten run ended by rampaging Bulls

United Rugby Championship: Bulls 62 Leinster 7

All unbeaten runs, 17 games in Leinster’s case, come to an end regardless of the margin of the defeat.

Making five changes to the side that had pulled off a dramatic draw away to Lions in Johannesburg seven days previously, there was to be no heroic reprieve on this occasion for what was a makeshift Leinster side.

They leave South Africa nonetheless with the comfort of a home quarter final draw next month against Cell C sharks whom they had 20 points to spare over when the sides last met at the RDS in October.

And despite the magnitude of Saturday’s defeat in Pretoria, Leinster will put it quickly behind them.

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On the positive side they have blooded a number of new players, Liam Molony and Conor O’Tighearnaigh the latest to see action for the first time in a Leinster shirt.

They were spared the worst of Saturday’s encounter as the visitors struggled to contain a rampant home side.

Bulls secured their place in the last eight against Stormers, in what will be a repeat of last year’s URC final. with some scintillating rugby that had Leinster on the back foot from a very early stage.

The home side needed just seven minutes to open their account when outhalf Johan Goosen slotted over a penalty from in front of the posts.

And then after Goosen had converted a 15th minute try from Bulls captain, Ruan Nortje, the home side struck for their second try of the afternoon on 26 minutes.

Following a break from David Kriel, Kurt Lee Arendse came off the shoulder before cutting in to make the touchdown. Goosen added the two points and then with six minutes to go in the half, Bulls capitalised on a Leinster breakdown to race up field with Arendse eventually touching down to give Goosen the simplest of conversions.

And whatever notions Leinster had of retrieving the game were all but dashed on the blow of half time when Bulls hooker, Johan Grobbelaar recorded the bonus try for the home side, Goosen’s subsequent conversion making it 31-0 at the break.

An impressive run from Bulls scrumhalf, Embrose Papier, then set up Grobbelaar for his second try of the afternoon with Goosen failing to find the posts for the first time in the game.

But a terrific Crossfield kick from Goosen then set up the try of the day with Bulls wing Canan Moodie outjumping Dave Kearney, to make a spectacular touchdown down in the corner.

Leinster who had lost Tom Clarkson to a yellow card just before that fell further behind to a Stedman Gans try before they finally broke their duck through replacement frontrow Michael Milne on 53 minutes, with Sam Prendergast converting.

However, it proved just a brief respite for Leinster as Bulls recorded two more converted tries from Harold Vorster (54) and Moodie (60).

Scorers – Bulls: K Arendse, C Moodie, J Grobbelaar 2 tries each; R Nortje, S Gans, H Vorster try each; J Goosen pen, 7 cons. Leinster: K Milne try, S Prendergast con.

BULLS: K Arendse; C Moodie, S Gans, H Vorster, D Kriel; J Goosen, E Papier; G Steenekamp, J Grobbelaar, M Smith; R Vermaak, R Nortje; M Van Staden, C Brink, E Louw. Replacements: WJ Steenkamp for Brink (17 mins); K Johannes for Papier (49); S Matanzima for Steenekamp, B Du Plessis for Grobbelaar, F Klooper for M Smith (all 54); Janko Swanepoel for Nortje (59), C Williams Smith for Goosen (66).

LEINSTER: C Cosgrave; T O’Brien, L Turner, B Brownlee, D Kearney; S Prendergast, N McCarthy; E Byrne, T McElroy, T Clarkson; A Sorova, B Deeney; J Culhane, W Connors, M Deegan. Replacements: R Russell for O’Brien (41 mins); C Tector for O’Brien, B Murphy for Brownlee (both 42); M Milne for Byrne (48); Temi Asewunmi Lasisi for Culhane (49); L Barron for McElroy (54); L Moloney for Connors, C O’Tighearnaigh for Deeney (both 65).

Referee: C Evans (WRU).