RECAP | Bulls barnstorm their way to clinical victory over an ...

22 Apr 2023

RECAP | Bulls barnstorm their way to clinical victory over an overawed Leinster

Heinz Schenk

Ruan Nortje smothered. (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Ruan Nortje smothered. (Photo By Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

1h ago

It's over.

A brilliant performance from the Bulls, who were relentless and accurate in claiming a 62-7 victory. 

1h ago

Yellow card!

Ruan Vermaak, ball in hand, won't finish the game as he's pinged for a leading forearm.

He initially bumped the shoulder with an open hand, but then the arm tightened up and moved up to the neck area.

The TMO also adjudges the fact that the arm was away from his chest made it deliberate. 

1h ago

The game has petered out a bit now as we move into the final 10 minutes.

2h ago

Bulls 62-7 Leinster

Even for a C-team, this is becoming a bit of a rout. 

2h ago

TRY - Canan Moodie

It's a brace for the classy Springbok winger.

Messy stuff from the breakdown by Leinster and Moodie pounces on the knock.

He races in. 

2h ago

Bulls 55-7 Leinster

Goosen converts. He's had a good game. 

2h ago

TRY - Harold Vorster

But don't mind me!

The Bulls scrum gobbles up their opponents again.

Moodie gets his hands beautifully through a tackle as he frees up Gans, who then makes a return pass to midfield partner Vorster.

The Bulls have been relentless. 

2h ago

The rhythm might be affected now as Jake White rings the changes.

A whole new front-row of Simphiwe Matanzima, Bismarck du Plessis and Francois Klopper. 

2h ago

Bulls 48-7 Leinster

Sam Prendergast converts. 

2h ago

TRY - Michael Milne

The replacement prop surprises all and sundry with a lovely line break as the Bulls, for the first time really, lose concentration.

The resulting momentum allows him to score too after a few phases. 

It's taken the Irish heavyweights 53 minutes, but their scorecard won't be blank. 

2h ago

Bulls 48-0 Leinster

Goosen is wide with the conversion. 

2h ago

TRY - Stedman Gans

Young Temi Lasisi has to come on for a scrum because Clarkson is in the bin and it's a nightmarish experience.

The Bulls rumble ahead as Leinster cough up possession.

Some nifty passing between Kriel and Arendse allows Stedman Gans, who's delivered a promising showing in midfield, to score his first ever URC try.  

2h ago

Replacement:

Keagan Johannes --> Embrose Papier 

2h ago

Bulls 43-0 Leinster

Goosen converts a beauty. 

2h ago

TRY - Canan Moodie

It's falling apart now for Leinster's rookies.

Bulls camp on the visitors' line again as a skip pass is clumsily intercepted.

Harold Vorster pounces on the loose ball and Goosen launches a cross-kick for Moodie, who plucks it brilliantly in the air. 

2h ago

Yellow card!

The referee has had it with Leinster's poor discipline in terms of their defensive shape.

Thomas Clarkson is the "victim" of the team warning. 

2h ago

Bulls 36-0 Leinster

Goosen misses his first kick of the day, but the Bulls have made their statement. 

2h ago

TRY - Johan Grobbelaar

Oh dear.

Leinster botch the kick-off and the Bulls run everything at them again.

First there's some sublime offloading from Harold Vorster and Gerhard Steenekamp, but it's the impressive Embrose Papier who shapes to pass before running a fine angle into a yawning gap left by the defence.

Grobbelaar is on hand to run in. He's got some gas too. 

2h ago

Kurt-Lee Arendse competes in the air with James Culhane. (Photo: Getty)

emKurt-Lee Arendse competes in the air with James Culhane. (Photo: Getty)/em

2h ago

Leinster's youngsters have been dominated, but you have to give them credit for their speed off the line and some outstanding work at the breakdown. 

2h ago

Yes, this is Leinster's C-team but the Bulls can only play against what's in front of them.

And they've done well to take advantage.

31-0 should be enough of a buffer though they wouldn't want to slack off.  

2h ago

Bulls 31-0 Leinster

Goosen converts. 

2h ago

TRY - Johan Grobbelaar

The Bulls have a bonus point in the bag for four tries.

Leinster's indiscipline comes to bite them again as the Bulls launch a decent rolling maul though Alex Soroka does superbly again to stifle it by wiggling into the middle.

After Papier breaks off, Grobbelaar's power is enough for the score.

2h ago

Formal warning for Leinster skipper Ed Byrne because of their defensive line keeps going off-side.

There's also a TMO review for David Kriel's off-load possibly being impeded with, but the footage shows it was very much accidental. 

2h ago

Bulls 24-0 Leinster

Another conversion by Goosen.

2h ago

TRY - Kurt-Lee Arendse

Harsh on Leinster.

They finally have an attacking lineout again after a deliberate knockdown from Bulls skipper Ruan Nortje.

But Elrigh Louws reads the visitors' attacking shape superbly as he creeps up the defensive line to make the interception.

Fullback Cosgrave fumbles the kick ahead by the home No 8, allowing the Bulls quick ball, who launch (yes you guessed it) another nudge ahead through Moodie.

However, this time there is space for Arendse to run in and dot down.   

2h ago

Leinster might look a bit overawed at times, but this C-team knowns how to disrupt.

First, lock Alex Soroka wedges into the middle of the Bulls' attacking maul and forces Johan Grobbelaar to cough up possession.

And then blindsider Will Connors makes a brilliant steal. 

They're in the Bulls' half now. 

2h ago

Bulls 17-0 Leinster

Goosen has an easy one to convert.

The Bulls steadily converting pressure into points.

2h ago

TRY - Kurt-Lee Arendse

Keep the ball! 

Brilliant interplay between Arendse and David Kriel as the former skirts past Tommy O'Brien to open up space for his teammate, who replies in kind with the scoring pass.

Simple and beautiful.

3h ago

You have to wonder about the Bulls strategy of  launching little chips ahead.

It's not like it's truly finding space, which renders Papier's prone break from a quick-tap penalty a bit defeating. 

3h ago

Wow, that is brilliant stuff from Leinster tighthead Tom Clarkson as he obliterates Bulls loosehead Gerhard Steenekamp and forces the home scrum to wheel illegally.

The pressure is relieved. 

3h ago

Huge territorial gain for the Bulls after they manage to repel an attacking lineout following a superb kick from fullback Cosgrave.

Leinster show some nice initiative, but Stedman Gans' ball and all tackle on Liam Turner is a stunner, allowing Goosen to kick ahead into the left corner, where Tommy O'Brien slices his return. 

3h ago

Bulls 10-0 Leinster

Goosen converts.

We're in the 14th minute. 

3h ago

TRY - RUAN NORTJE

The Bulls have been pretty relentless.

Canan Moodie overcooks a kick forward, which allows Leinster a drop-out, but a short pass to Moodie again gives them momentum on the attack yet again.

Harold Vorster and Marco van Staden both carry with vigour before Nortje crashes over from close range.

3h ago

Bulls 3-0 Leinster

Goosen goes for posts and coverts. 

3h ago

Helter skelter stuff in the first 5 minutes!

The grizzled Bulls front-row force a penalty from the first scrum of the match, which Johan Goosen kicks to touch.

The lineout is an efficient one as the hosts hammer away at Leinster's line.

Embrose Papier's flat pass is intercepted by Leinster fullback Chris Cosgrave, but Papier's pace proves crucial in hunting him down.

Kurt-Lee Arendse then launches another counter, which almost culminates in Goosen breaking the line before losing the ball.

Advantage for a high tackle on Arendse was being played though.  

3h ago

While the ground was pretty empty for the start of the double header when the Lions and Zebre were up against each other, there seems to be a few more fans coming in... (Photo: Gallo)

While the ground was pretty empty for the start of the double header when the Lions and Zebre were up against each other, there seems to be a few more fans coming in... (Photo: Gallo)

3h ago

Both teams don't have much to lose in terms of the final log positions, but the Bulls will be aiming to walk away with maximum log points to finish fifth potentially.

That would mean a quarter-final against the Stormers, a prospect they would fancy far more than going overseas. 

3h ago

Welcome to News24 Sport's live coverage of the URC meeting between the Bulls and Leinster at Loftus.

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