Leinster obliterate Bulls in URC final to answer critics as Jordie Barrett signs off in style
Jordie Barrett celebrates try v Bulls in URC final 2025.
Leinster ended their four-year wait for a trophy as they proved too strong for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship final, claiming a 32-7 triumph at Croke Park.
The Irish province have been criticised for their inability to get the job done, as well as their general performances in big moments, but they were relentless in Dublin on Saturday.
Their Jacques Nienaber-designed defence was utterly brutal and they would go into the break 19-0 in front through Jack Conan, Jordie Barrett and Josh van der Flier tries.
Although Leinster were finally breached in the second period via Akker van der Merwe, the hosts were never put under any real pressure by the Bulls.
Fintan Gunne duly put the seal on their URC title triumph with a late try as they responded to their Champions Cup disappointment in the best possible way.
While Europe is always their ultimate target, this was an important success for the Irishmen given their past failures.
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After all their previous disappointments, there were questions as to whether those nerves would once again afflict them on Saturday, especially against a Bulls side who seemingly had the tools to disrupt the hosts.
In wet conditions and against a scrum which has been dominant all season, Leinster appeared vulnerable, but those doubts were erased in a stunning opening 25 minutes.
For the first time all year, it was the South Africans who were sent into reverse at the set-piece as Andrew Porter and Thomas Clarkson tore into their opposition front-rowers.
That laid the platform for the opening try as they went through the phases in the Bulls’ 22 before Conan crossed the whitewash from close-range to get them on the scoreboard.
It was a start which rather set the tone for the first half. Leo Cullen’s men were absolutely ferocious in contact on both sides of the ball and the Pretoria outfit quite simply looked stunned.
Leinster weren’t one-dimensional either and despite the rain teeming down, they showed the dexterity which has been a hallmark of their game.
The hosts may have suffered a blow before the match when Jamison Gibson-Park was ruled out but his replacement, Ireland international Luke McGrath, proved that he is a more than able deputy by creating the score.
His well-weighted chip over the top enabled Barrett to run onto the ball. The All Blacks star, who was playing his final game for the Irish province before returning to New Zealand, kicked ahead and touched down to take his side 14-0 in front.
A third try was soon forthcoming for the rampant Irishmen as a dominant maul ended in Van der Flier going over and it was a lead they would hold until the break.
They did have plenty of defending to do in the second quarter but their rearguard was absolutely superb and, against a Bulls outfit who were so predictable in phase play, the Irish side kept them scoreless.
If the visitors hoped the half-time break would alter the momentum at the start of the second period then they were mistaken as Leinster won yet another scrum penalty and Prendergast was successful with the resultant kick to make it a 22-point game.
The match was slipping away from the South Africans but they would give themselves a glimmer of hope when Van der Merwe crossed the whitewash from close-range.
However, a comeback for the ages never materialised as a second Prendergast three-pointer and a further try from Gunne sealed a fine win and, finally, a trophy.
The teams
Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath, 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jamie Osborne
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canon Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Ruan Nortje (c), 6 Marco van Staden, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Keagan Johannes, 23 Devon Williams
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR, 55th league game)
Assistant referees: Mike Adamson (SRU) and Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)