Leinster vs Bulls: Big URC Final Preview

Leinster hosts the Vodacom Bulls in the final of the United Rugby Championship (URC) this weekend. 

The game will be held at Croke Park in Dublin, due to the Irish side being the higher-seeded team following a table-topping regular season. 

Neither team has won the URC in its current format, with this representing Leinster’s first and Bulls’ third final. 

Following a surprising loss in the Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton Saints, the Dubliners will be looking to avoid ending another season trophyless. 

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Path to the final 

In a similar fashion to the Premiership, the URC final will see the first-placed team in the regular season up against the second-placed team. 

Leinster won 16 of their 18 games and the Bulls 14 out of 18, so these two teams really have been at the top of their game all season. 

Both had to battle through the quarters and semis, though, overcoming some tough opposition in the way. 

Leinster struggled for large portions against Scarlets in the quarters but eventually showed their quality and came out with a 33-21 win, before beating reigning URC champions Glasgow Warriors in the semis. 

The Dublin side barely left second gear against the Warriors and came out with an impressively convincing 37-19 win at the Aviva Stadium. 

Bulls made things more difficult than they would have liked in their quarter-final against Edinburgh, but ended up coming out on the right side of the result with a 42-22 win. 

Their semi was against fellow South African side Sharks, who really failed to deliver at Loftus Versfeld and made things pretty comfortable for the Bulls. 

Home advantage and the altitude in Pretoria helped, with them ending the game as 25-13 winners. 

History 

These two have met once this season, with the Bulls narrowly winning 21-20 at home. More importantly, these two have a previous play-off history. 

In the two semi-finals that these two have played, the Bulls have won both, including a shock result in Dublin in 2022. 

They won 27-26 on that occasion, but more recently were victorious at the semi-final stage last season. 

Although less surprising given that they had home advantage on that occasion, it will still loom large in the minds of Leinster fans. 

Recent history suggests that the South Africans have the edge over their opponents, but the quality of Leinster cannot be understated. 

A bit of a rivalry due to the games that they have played, this next game provides the biggest one yet between the two. 

Talking Points 

Both teams have a few injuries to contend with, but Leinster’s strength in depth means that they are less affected than the other side. 

Huge Keenan, Tadhg Furlong and the long-term injury for Caelan Doris mean that the hosts will be without three of their best players. 

However, all three have ample replacements waiting in the ranks who are starting this weekend. 

Bulls are without Kurt-Lee Arendse, Cameron Hanekom and Elrich Louw, amongst others will be out and will be hugely missed as three of the stars for the visitors. 

Depth could well prove to be the difference in this game, and Leinster’s bench is stronger than that of their counterparts. 

It is worth noting that since the rebrand to the URC, neither team has won. Bulls have been closest, losing in the 2022 and 2024 finals against Stormers and Glasgow Warriors. 

Despite being the record title holders across the different incarnations of the league, this game will be Leinster’s first final since the URC rebrand. 

The Dublin side have become known in recent years for their strong squad that can often fall short of expectations. 

Because of the URC format, this game won’t be held at a neutral venue, and Leinster will have home advantage, with it being played at Croke Park in Dublin. 

That will have a huge advantage with the travel required from South Africa and the atmosphere generated, and if it is not now for Leinster, then you have to wonder when it will be. 

As seen against Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup, the Dubliners can sometimes go missing when it matters most. 

Matchups 

James Lowe v Canan Moodie 

Lowe, known for his powerful running, quick decision-making, and playmaking, has been instrumental in both Leinster and Ireland‘s successes.  

His ability to read the game and create opportunities makes him a constant threat out wide.  

Moodie, a rising star for the Bulls and the Springboks, brings explosive speed and agility to the wing. 

His recent experiences at Test level for the Springboks have shown just how highly rated he is within South Africa. 

This matchup is crucial as both players can shift the momentum of the game, and their individual performances could be decisive in securing victory. 

Andrew Porter v Wilco Louw 

South Africa is absolutely stacked at tighthead, and Louw has a tough task on his hands going up against a British and Irish Lion. 

Porter is Leinster’s loosehead and has been a cornerstone for both Leinster and Ireland.  

Known for his relentless work rate, he excels in both scrummaging and open play.  

An absolute monster on the front row, Porter is extremely powerful and is just an extremely solid player who does the basics to an extremely high level. 

Up against Louw, who is also an absolute tank at 144kg, it won’t be easy for the Ireland international, but he will hope to give his backs a good platform to work from. 

Louw’s role is crucial for the Bulls, because they need to win the physical battle if they are to get anything from this final, and he is key in that. 

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