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00:00:00body language the confidence scott burger spoke to us pre-game and says they're feeling very
00:00:04confident they didn't get spooked last year but perhaps the occasion overwhelmed some of them so
00:00:09i'm expecting it to be a lot closer this year out uh yet it's their third grand final
00:00:15and they've i should say lost their previous three grand finals this is their fourth they did of
00:00:21course win three super rugby grand finals in the southern hemisphere in 07 09 and 10 they know how
00:00:28to win you just haven't found the winning formula in a grand final day in the urc ian madigan you're
00:00:35expecting a terrific performance i know that from them today yeah you could arguably say it's the
00:00:41the nearly man of the champions cup against the nearly man of the urc but yeah i'm expecting a
00:00:47far better performance from the bulls i think the areas that they may have an edge against leinster
00:00:51the scrum that the strongest scrum in the competition 96 win rate on their own ball they've
00:00:57won 45 penalties leinster on the other hand they do have a strong scrum but they've conceded 40
00:01:03penalties and then the other big areas how quickly teams can score the bulls scored with 30 less
00:01:11carries than leinster so it takes the leinster considering more time to get over the line quite
00:01:15often in finals it's about making it as difficult as possible for the opposition to get over the line
00:01:21and i'm expecting the bulls to do that this year they'll have been disappointed with what happened in
00:01:25last year's final sides led out by their respective captains of course caitlin doris the leinster captain
00:01:32and number eight marcel cotia also a number eight on occasion number six today the bulls captain
00:01:40and was in the final for ulster against leinster a number of seasons ago there's a man who will
00:01:49take charge today andrea pierre d it's his fourth consecutive urc final 33 year old one of the
00:01:57world's leading referees big occasion for him and his assistants adam jones ben break spear matthio
00:02:04liberini is the television match official no doubt we will hear from him as
00:02:10the day and evening precede but before we start there will be a moment silence in memory of the former
00:02:32ceo of
00:02:34the irish rugby football union philip brown
00:02:42the terrific administrator for irish rugby
00:02:48and remembered at croke park the final in the urc
00:03:06good joy guys
00:03:13gone too soon sorely missed for brown
00:03:27leinster getting themselves as you can see into a little huddle just before
00:03:32we get underway
00:03:35stung by their performance as much as the results in the champions cup final in bilbao
00:03:42and they will want to start as they so often do in fifth gear and ready to go caleb doris
00:03:50fully focused sam prendergas how much in his shoulders in this grand final
00:04:02so then match 151 in the urc season for 2026 it's the grand final one of these sides 80 minutes
00:04:11from glory and we are off and running in croke park
00:04:18and the man with the most tries in the tournament and bruce papier
00:04:2412 tries to his name is the first to kick it to air and those contestables
00:04:30are going to be so important bulls are the ones who get their hands on the ball to start
00:04:36and it's garrett stinkham use it takes it into contact much made of
00:04:42leinster's defense this season whatever way they play it it's gonna have to be rock solid
00:04:48particularly in these opening phases hugo keenan runs into a wall of bulls players jemison gibson park
00:04:55so often the talisman for leinster real line speed and intent from the bulls in their opening defensive effort but
00:05:03as we showed the beginning of the broadcasts they do defend narrow sometimes the bulls and you can
00:05:10get to the edge and leinster almost getting to the edge and that occasion james low
00:05:16had a little gap caleb doris drives the legs and drives leinster forward
00:05:20gibson park narrow side prendergas almost picked off and i wonder is it going to be an issue here
00:05:29i think we need to have a look because i think it's really far and there is a possibility for
00:05:43a
00:05:43line break okay but we'll check we start upstairs to be sure we have a delivery knock on just
00:05:51understand if we have a yellow card for a line break or not so there is a knock on there
00:05:57is an
00:05:57intentional knock on in the referee's view the question is is there a clean line break because
00:06:02if there is and it looks like there is keino moody may well be going to overlap on the outside
00:06:07yeah it's a tight one he's just i just feel like the phase before that they get burned he puts
00:06:10a hand
00:06:11out he could get two hands down actually go for it yeah it's an early yellow card and an early
00:06:17challenge
00:06:18for the bulls to deal with 14 and exactly what the coaches will not have wanted keep your discipline
00:06:25get yourself into the game and the bulls are down to 14 ian madigan yeah that's a killer for the
00:06:32bulls
00:06:32starting with that they got great impacts on the opening two carries from leinster big tackles
00:06:38coming in on keenan and dars but leinster were patient they were able to recycle the ball
00:06:43and then really smart play from gibson park bouncing back to the short side creating that overlap for
00:06:48leinster just got keina moody in an orca position just stuck his hand out the temptation was too much
00:06:54yeah you saw early on as well didn't you that face ball going across the defender and
00:06:58as a defender you almost sense that pressure you feel like you maybe got a bite out of line
00:07:03but what he's done is going to make it even harder for those defenders to hold their shape against the
00:07:07shapes that leinster throw at them in attack
00:07:11rovan kellehert starting at hooker dan sheehan's on the bench here's james low he'll want to finish with a
00:07:17flourish his time in that blue jersey good handling prendergast
00:07:24deegan back on the angle leinster starting as they so often do at pace with accuracy can they take
00:07:32full advantage urico joani mccarthy knocked back on his heels lost
00:07:39gipson park has the ball at the bottom of a slow breakdown away from the ball eventually it's set
00:07:48free and jerry care takes it into contact what a fantastic season okay that's it yeah that's it
00:07:55profiting from the misfortune of others no question but he's done such a good job for
00:08:01leinster when called upon this his biggest test to date
00:08:07gibson park leinster continue to pound away at that bulls five meter line but the defensive effort
00:08:14from the bulls gets stronger as we go through the phases they're knocking leinster back
00:08:19gibson park continues down that narrow side furlong missed a couple of games
00:08:25recently but back and at full pace it would seem kellen durris takes it into contact again
00:08:34kelleher once more thought about getting rid of it held on instead and that is a big big win
00:08:40for the 14-man bulls yeah great defense from the bulls you saw a few momentum stoppers there
00:08:46first couple phases leinster looks so dangerous it's where they're at their most potent
00:08:51as the ball got slowed down the one-on-one collisions were one you see they lose their
00:08:54shape there keller's looking for a tip on that isn't there i think it's hanecombe gets straight
00:08:59over the ball clear release strong position one clearer who gets in there just too late
00:09:05a big moral victory for the bulls early on oh yeah well leinster time off scored the most tries
00:09:13in the first 10 minutes final of any team in the urc and indeed three tries in the first 22
00:09:19minutes as
00:09:20you say john pretty much settled this game last year they were threatening but weren't able and now
00:09:28they have the added concern of a what looks like a reasonably serious injury to kaylan durris
00:09:37it's never a great role when you see the boot coming off what is the issue
00:09:45dr john ryan gareth farrell giving it the once over we need we need to carry on with the game
00:09:50they can do you can you can stay out for a second and we'll carry on with the game okay
00:10:00referee not unreasonably saying we're going to make a decision here about whether he can
00:10:04continue or not and he's going to go to the sides okay we carry on with the game
00:10:11we're not keep at the bottom we stay out stay out because it's not we don't need him guys we
00:10:16don't need him to carry on with the game numbers
00:10:25okay bulls
00:10:29and the bulls
00:10:30in their first line out of the evening
00:10:3710 tries for the bulls hooker in the urc season the only man under six feet in the entire pocket
00:10:44five foot eleven there's monsters everywhere you look six four six five six seven six seven
00:10:53they breed them big they sure do and looks like the bulls are going to use that early on
00:10:58all the indications they want to take them on physically with the ball without the ball going to
00:11:02be direct back here to the air low couldn't get to it that was my blue sorry
00:11:09knock on my blue yeah yeah grease vantage forward by a lencer hand compounded by hugo keenan and it's
00:11:17an opportunity for the bulls to launch their first real attack pollard who was off with the
00:11:22boot in the semi-final despite that the bulls played oh so well having trail 21-3 here's tommy o
00:11:30'brien
00:11:30and leinster have found a way through and it's bounced up beautifully for the leinster winger
00:11:37and the crowd are on their feet and from nothing leinster hit the front
00:11:43the bulls pluck their lines and you just can't do it in a grand final
00:11:49a bit of good fortune here from leinster you've got to make your own look in finals and that comes
00:11:55from their hard press and defense they get up off the line get in the faces of the bulls attackers
00:11:59forced a mistake from pollard and then really nice piece of skill from tommy o'brien to hack it
00:12:05through not too dissimilar to the try that barrett got in the final last year
00:12:10one area of concern for leinster here though ryle i was keeping an eye on
00:12:13calen dars through that passage of play i don't think he's been able to run off that injury and
00:12:17i see an early change from jack conan leinster's player of the year in under the sticks prendergast adds
00:12:24an easy additional two and leinster have done in an orthodox way what they so often do they've
00:12:34started quickly they get the first seven points on the board yeah absolutely and mad's touching it
00:12:38there didn't necessarily get man and ball with the hit which forces so many errors so many
00:12:44turnovers interceptions but they forced a poor pass back on the inside
00:12:48pollard would be disappointed he didn't take it but it is what they'd be looking for especially
00:12:53a man up having not converted their opportunity down in leinster's 20 in the bulls 22
00:13:00lose their captain early but they do have well the lions number eight to come off the bench jack
00:13:07conan into the game tries in the finals in 2018 2021 and of course last year man of the match
00:13:16in
00:13:16fact in the grand final last season in a little earlier than he would have anticipated bulls trailing
00:13:24earlier than they would have anticipated down of course to 14. norkia tries to set the tone use it
00:13:35tapier off slow ball and quite advanced still goes to the air o'brien underneath it and does really well
00:13:46it's been done just gone number 13 obstruction obstruction just obstructed that clear line for
00:13:51the chasing lane for the chasing easy penalty again you just see what the bulls are doing just
00:13:56very happy to tuck the ball early be direct not even a single thought of a tip on
00:14:01it's where they got a lot of change out of glasgow the offloads the passing game came later on in
00:14:06the
00:14:06game that's given them the perfect platform we always speak about it don't we you score points you've got
00:14:11to get back up but as you see that pure discipline there he knows what he's doing running across the
00:14:16line you just don't get away with any more do you mads oh that's a cheap one to give away
00:14:19john he knows
00:14:21the rules there he knows he's got to clear that space he's got to have better awareness even the
00:14:24players running in behind you if you're joining this lace the voices of john barkley and il madigan
00:14:30okay for this grand final dirty ball but ball nonetheless for the bulls and they will pound away
00:14:39with those big beefy forwards at this leinster defensive line van der fleer shoots up quickly and
00:14:46chops down the first carrier papier just will keep popping it up coxia will be the one to get his
00:14:57hands on it now
00:15:00conan wearing 20 and making his first meaningful contribution big hits on early low leinster doing to
00:15:09the bulls what was done to them hitting hard just not allowing any early ground o'brien shoots up on
00:15:17this
00:15:17occasion and the bulls a little bit at sixes and sevens in terms of making any meaningful ground and
00:15:26level uh holds on and leinster get over it and it's a carbon coffee in the other 22 what happened
00:15:33earlier yeah really interesting passage of play there from a defensive point of view for leinster
00:15:38sean o'brien in particular is going to be delighted with that noticeable step change in the height of
00:15:44the leinster tacklers going in really low royal targeting the knees and the lower limbs of the bulls
00:15:49players trying to get them onto the ground as quickly as possible take away any opportunity to get a
00:15:54leg driver a latching player to get in and drive them forward and what that gives is is your poaching
00:16:00player the opportunity to get in and win the ball tommy o'brien getting in there winning that one
00:16:06as a poacher in chief yourself you've got to appreciate that one john no you love those you
00:16:10love them anywhere on the pitch but certainly five meters out when the pressure's coming on
00:16:14this is an attacking play whenever you cut back in it's just that bit harder to clear that ruck
00:16:18see grobbler there came back against the grain lost his player and o'brien gets over the ball and wins
00:16:22that race van der fleer gibson park and joani he's wrapped up by double tackle andre pollard involved in
00:16:34it van der fleer carries again there's an intense and an intensity in the leinster carries osborne
00:16:42almost gets away grobbler gets to him quick ball prendergast flashes it to to tommy o'brien o'brien
00:16:48o'brien back inside max degan leinster are humming here kelleher as i say it just can't hold on
00:16:56greasy ball after the rain all day on that surface and just a little too hot to handle for roman
00:17:02kelleher
00:17:02but signs from leinster that will encourage that crowd yeah they're stressing the bulls in that wide
00:17:09channel it's a great pass from prendergast across the face again third one of the game already you
00:17:14see that outside defender feet planted it's almost a carbon copy of when the bulls play glasgow glasgow
00:17:20caused them so many troubles in the opening half of loading up a defender multiple options choosing
00:17:26the right one the bulls did get much better in the second half but leinster clearly done their homework
00:17:31targeting that channel isolating the players doing a good job of it yeah and the key to getting it into
00:17:36those wide channels john it's that quick work ball and you're able to get it on three phases in a
00:17:41row
00:17:41there that created the soft edge expertly executed by prendergast eleven and a half minutes the game
00:17:48is old and we have our first scrum croats a belief that the bulls will absolutely dominate this facet of
00:17:59play
00:17:59if we get it going which we want in this occasion already in both of you
00:18:09let's look on the right side of andrea piardi in the grand final last year and these first scrums john
00:18:17okay quick reset in terms of giving the referee the picture that you want to give him yes perception
00:18:24isn't it you want to paint good pictures they would have been spoken to in the changing rooms before
00:18:28the game and what would they expect what the referee expects from the front rows in particular but
00:18:33there's no getting away from it the bulls will be smart from that last year's final four scrum
00:18:38penalties against they come into this as he entered early with the best scrum in the competition for
00:18:43milking penalties forcing penalties from their opposition and in a young front row
00:18:48in the experience they will be going for sure this afternoon
00:18:56important from their perspective would they control that urge to dominate the scrum because
00:19:02if they go early they make it an easy decision for the referee to award a penalty against them so
00:19:08controlling that aggression controlling that emotion key from the bulls perspective
00:19:16they've got such big men and they're probably strong enough not to win the hit and still regroup get
00:19:20their feet back under them coach settle and go again lenzer know they've got to get across this gap quickly
00:19:26trying to put pressure on early across the bind
00:19:31up here okay use it using rose go down referee say vine he's gonna let it continue
00:19:39we'll call that one a neutral
00:19:50use it officiating party happy to let it continue
00:19:54top here not for the first time in this opening 15 minutes goes to the skies
00:19:59which have got dark there's a shower coming and that's going to have an impact tommy o'brien
00:20:05prendergast well handled not well executed
00:20:21and they'll miss that he and madigan
00:20:25they certainly will what an absolute cannon that was from james low a little bit of wind coming off the
00:20:30hill
00:20:32you've gone from your own 22 flip the field force the bulls to exit you see kane and moody coming
00:20:38back on from his sin binning
00:20:40i would say in the bulls having won the semi-final the way they did 21 three down
00:20:50two players in the sin bin in the first half that would do them no harm coming into this i
00:20:54mean kane and
00:20:55moody lost early seven points down enough experience in the longer term internationally but also just
00:21:01recent in terms of what happened a few weeks ago both these sides similar in terms of their season
00:21:06use it both started horribly and finished strongly the bulls in particular winning eight
00:21:13one of their last dates 12 or 14 since christmas they have been the form side in the second half
00:21:20of the season
00:21:21my wife yeah yeah i want to get on with this quickly gibson park that one dangerous but when it
00:21:27comes off it
00:21:28creates space and hugo keenan is off to the races now he's got gas and he's got joani who steps
00:21:35back
00:21:35inside riko joani is there all coming from the vision of gibson park and the all black over in the
00:21:44corner
00:21:46the leicester flags wave high and proud and leicester have their second try yeah they do almost from
00:21:55nothing but quick thinking from gibson park look like the hole opens up keenan moody slips it looks
00:22:01like keep your eyes on them just as the ball goes out the back keenan does a great job to
00:22:06spend just
00:22:07that trip there opens up that hole you think aaron might get across he cuts back inside juani
00:22:15that's pretty well you've got to say with the finish but another try from nothing quick thinking wins the
00:22:20day yeah great finish from rico he's a lot of work to do there and he gets his hands on
00:22:25the ball
00:22:25on the 22. what a try from leinster the leinster way going quickly great awareness from gibson park
00:22:32gets it to that man there prendergas slips it to hugo keenan and then he gets the afterburners on
00:22:37gets outside moody that one doesn't find the target in this competition sam prendergas has an 80
00:22:46success record his stats for the season when you throw in the champions cup
00:22:51and others not quite at that keenan once he got going he left aaron set trailing in his wake
00:22:59and that was a brilliant pass well executed and the step and the finish from joani
00:23:06came as a bit of a pantomime villain that one will be long remembered by those in that corner of
00:23:13croke park
00:23:21no dummy and a decent clearance no dummy no dummy yeah it's really important for an answer after
00:23:30getting two early tries good drill on that restart receipt and then just get the ball off the field
00:23:35try and contest that two line out doing the line out okay good bulls and good won't panic no question
00:23:42about that but they will want to threaten leinster a little bit more than they have in the opening quarter
00:23:47first man that's not going to help van der fleer driven with a little bit of help from his friends
00:23:56again intensity and accuracy from leinster prendergas they've cut the balls open again
00:24:02here's hugo keenan gets it to low well delayed the pass low's not done yet on he goes looking for
00:24:10support
00:24:10just can't pull it off but leinster threatening and that is the leinster
00:24:18that so many here today have not seen enough of this season yeah we see the sex and loop being
00:24:26executed by prendergas really nice piece of play from him takes the ball to the line and just moves
00:24:32laterally it's osborne who sits the defense down and we'll look at it here the turnover from joe mccarthy
00:24:38another great shot tackle from keter yeah i know smart decision making on the ball from hugo keenan
00:24:44but it was the lead-up play john that was really impressive for leinster yeah it was bull's line
00:24:49out they went for two man the long and short visit they end up with clopper in midfield ready to
00:24:53go guys
00:24:53two phases later clopper still in midfield and the space is out wide and if you're defending in the wide
00:24:57channels with someone that if we're honest isn't built to defend in the wide channels as an attacker
00:25:03you're licking your lip do you think we're going to go after him we're going to stress the defender
00:25:06either side of him because the confidence won't be there
00:25:08a little bit of pressure on their line out defensively which leinster get up and
00:25:15try and contest concierge drives the bulls into good field position and an opportunity for
00:25:24to clear the bulls lines doesn't find touch low hugo keenan he's been given the freedom of the park a
00:25:35little as hugo keenan and he'll take advantage of it all day long on the front foot again leinster
00:25:43with the momentum first man on the ball trying to get more points on the board but the bulls have
00:25:48turned it over accuracy at the breakdown from the bulls and they look at turn defense into attack and
00:25:54doing it quickly finds its way to jacob's and now kane and moody's after them pendergast needs to go here
00:26:01and he does brilliantly he was a mile back with two bull flares
00:26:07coming pouring through moody was one of them jacob's the other and pendergast using all six
00:26:16foot plus of his body to get there and rescue the situation because there was no one at home for
00:26:22leinster i don't think kane and moody quite understood the opportunity in front of them there
00:26:26almost out of canter then looked up and saw it was maybe a foot race on it's grovel out that
00:26:32gets the
00:26:32turnover gets it early wins it cleanly most important some lovely hands here in the wider
00:26:38channels to get it to space a brilliantly weighted kick here but you see there just the hesitation
00:26:43initially i think that ball just couldn't bounce for the bulls how well does pendergast do puts his
00:26:49head in the spokes not a nice place to put it but he comes up trumps yeah it's really good
00:26:56awareness
00:26:57from pendergast there right he was over the far side of the leinster's defensive line knew that there
00:27:02was no one home hugo keenan was caught on this open side here got on his bike really early got
00:27:08the
00:27:08foot down on the gas and he needed to i was going to say it's one of those that if
00:27:12you're in the stadium
00:27:13you probably appreciate more than watching at home because he was a long long way back and had
00:27:21some ground to cover and didn't he do it well you can hear the cheer from the crowd he's had
00:27:30a hard
00:27:30time sam frendergast mainly for his defensive potential frailties but that will please a lot
00:27:36of irish rugby fans that's not a comfortable keep it in the background he's on the halfway line here
00:27:40he's got the angle as well make no mistake he's got further to go there i think the bulls will
00:27:45be
00:27:45disappointed in the years back there two quick man but look at that dives at the boot laces
00:27:52how many because he says together the wave also gets it cleanly that ball could have bottled
00:27:56anywhere and then they've got two players who can pounce our director proving the point that you can
00:28:01watch it and appreciate it just as much as well
00:28:06van der flair prendergast
00:28:34the bulls will get the throw in to the line out over on that far side
00:28:39and let's go the bulls guessing at line out time as well that's three not one cleanly in the air
00:28:44you see the competition going up nokia is one of the best in the business in terms of speed off
00:28:49the
00:28:49ground but lens are going early getting up and causing chaos absolutely max deacon has been used by
00:28:54leinster a lot in this season to do the job that he's in there doing which is create chaos he
00:29:00doesn't
00:29:00necessarily have to win that many um the opposition show but he can put them off there's another one
00:29:08he's getting up in the eye line deacon's one of those players is yeah he's really tall but more
00:29:13importantly so quick off the ground you know as a lift you can get up and get up and get
00:29:17in the air
00:29:18colonel shy to get it to gibson park it still might work out for leinster willy larue has turned
00:29:24and he's got to carry it over his own line i think
00:29:29pard agrees leinster will get the scrum that's taking back strong five it'll be confirmed by the tmo but i
00:29:37think the referee has got it right in real time uh willy larue looks and says no
00:29:45shake of the head but the referee's up returning
00:29:49see again it's james ryan this time come here guys just a fingertip on it
00:29:53second i wondered if hannikin would just missed it but great pressure at the back and the tip on
00:29:58superb it turns into a bit of a mess but give us some part five is correct let's have a
00:30:05look
00:30:07pretty close actually okay it is close
00:30:13right decision
00:30:18so an attacking scrum opportunity for leinster
00:30:29crowds
00:30:32boy
00:30:35sat
00:30:37clouding full voice really enjoying this from leinster gibson park
00:30:41o'brien
00:30:44osborn does the clear out work gibson park jerry care
00:30:49very close leinster looking for a third try furlong happy to slow it down a little bit more
00:30:57deliberate on that occasion from leinster now jack conan trying to worm his way through
00:31:04presented for mccarthy he'll get there joe mccarthy
00:31:08doesn't get there james ryan might he's held up
00:31:13gibson park
00:31:16furlong
00:31:16but then we'll go to the end of the day we're going to be able to go ahead and then
00:31:29then and then and then and then from johann akerman and the bulls perspective they're having to do an
00:31:34awful lot of defending yeah they're digging in i wonder if james ryan go over you see it's the
00:31:39absolute right thing to do because hanukum goes goes early but he doesn't get there
00:31:44this is where the bulls are so strong look at that over the line then driven back two three yards
00:31:48live view from there i was that process here you've got to commend the bulls staying in the fight getting
00:31:54lower
00:31:55just see there the ball quite clearly held up
00:31:59have to say i thought mccarthy was going to get there james ryan brilliantly stopped by jacobs
00:32:06jerry kerris taking a knock ronan kelleher got a little attention as well
00:32:15but he's got to be happy leo cullen with the opening 23 minutes 12 points on the board
00:32:21and more importantly from that or as importantly ian madigan lentz are playing positively playing with
00:32:29accuracy yeah he'll certainly be happy with the start rival when you have momentum in finals you've got
00:32:34to get scores on the board leinster have had that in this opening 24 minutes they'll be disappointed
00:32:39to have not have stretched the lead out to 17 or 19 points nice opportunity here leinster love these
00:32:45goal line restarts prendergast goes to the air hugo keenan goes after it and the bulls looked at each
00:32:53other and gave a free go to hugo keenan which he accepts with gratitude and jerry kerr will take it
00:33:02in
00:33:02pain and moody and i think hondre pollard just looking at each other and keenan picks their
00:33:08pockets mccarthy sees the soft shoulder run donkey shut this down but the bulls are offside and leinster
00:33:17have a free roll of the dice max deegan
00:33:23gibson parser you have the vantagem osborne pulls it back prendergast as well keenan o'brien
00:33:30touched in the air o'brien still has it rubla is the one who makes the tackle
00:33:37gibson pars mccarthy again could be a yellow as well might well be
00:33:47furlong fully involved which clearly means fully fit prendergast nowhere to go he's wrapped up by
00:33:55hannika and we'll go back for at least a penalty
00:34:07two advantages the first one was offside this one is the liberal knock-on okay do you want to have
00:34:12a
00:34:12look because the ball arrived in any case but i think he affects the speed of the pass
00:34:16three
00:34:19so we're going to check another not debating whether there was a hand on us it's if he's uh
00:34:24repeated it's a penalty a try scoring opportunity possible yellow card and then maybe something more
00:34:29of them if he's the last defender okay andrea looking at the last defender if he's stopping the
00:34:35tries willy larue comes flying out the line keep your eyes on him this is the wide angle yeah so
00:34:40we have the
00:34:40he's coming across i think there are two guys coming over coming across with speed as well yeah
00:34:48it's going to be yellow isn't it yeah i think i think
00:34:52yeah
00:34:54i think that yellow can be a speed number nine special yeah speed to cover behind so matteo we are
00:35:00just
00:35:01thinking about a yellow card against 15 blue agree agree with us yeah okay
00:35:09we are
00:35:13really poor grand final last time out for the bulls the 101 times cap springbok
00:35:20delivered knock on yellow car cover that's a yellow card it's the bulls second yellow card of
00:35:25this first half and they're they're not carbon copies of one another mads but the damage is done
00:35:31With all the stress all the quick ball coming inside you're leaving back three players outside players
00:35:37defense huge amounts of space with huge amounts of stress and
00:35:41Will and LaRue's jammed in they tried to get in the passing lane, but all the damage was done look
00:35:45much before then
00:35:47Number place. Yoan Ackerman said to his players beforehand go out and enjoy yourselves
00:35:5326 minutes odd in
00:35:54I'm sure that any of them are yes, all of you in boys out you stay out said to
00:36:03Kelleher Deegan Gibson Park and Osborne a case city
00:36:08Bounces off and keeps going forward Gibson Park
00:36:11Kelleher drives the legs held up moments ago doesn't get there on this occasion
00:36:16Leinster to Vanderfleer
00:36:18The Bulls
00:36:20Make the tackle McCarty will launch himself into a wall of tree cooked yeah led the charge
00:36:33On Jack Conan goes looking for another try
00:36:36And he's got it
00:36:40Over
00:36:40Leinster have their third try they scored three tries in 22 minutes last year three tries in 26 this year
00:36:51Quality finish from Jack Conan
00:36:53Initial defense from the Bulls is really impressive putting their bodies on the line
00:36:57Stopping the Leinster
00:36:59Great chop tackling coming in
00:37:02And he got a little bit of quick ball was not quite able to get set reaches out gets it
00:37:07down
00:37:16And over go the additional two from Sam Pendergast and Leinster have a 19 point lead no wonder they're dancing
00:37:25Perfect start isn't it no one does it better in the league fast start
00:37:31A few opportunities out there as well you've got to think about it held up over the line lots of
00:37:35pressure
00:37:37The Bulls will be so frustrated with their own discipline their inability to defend the Leinster patterns that are coming
00:37:42at them
00:37:43They came back last week, but I'm sure they wouldn't have planned two weeks ago against Glasgow
00:37:47They wouldn't be planning let's go the same margin behind a long way to go now
00:37:54His 180th cap in blue
00:37:57Jack Conan four tries in four separate grand finals that's some record
00:38:10Use it
00:38:11Use it
00:38:13You can have a heart to rock for from us
00:38:15Okay, he started brightly and tender gas they're absolutely one in the show now
00:38:20Leinster in behind the bulls it goes
00:38:23It's an into the 22 it goes
00:38:25Yes
00:38:26And it is a well five star performance to this point
00:38:32From Leinster
00:38:32Yeah, this is really smart play from Leinster
00:38:35Balls with Willie Leroux in the send in
00:38:38Two players in the backfield means the space in the front line excellent from Osborne square running
00:38:43And good awareness from Prendergast
00:38:45Thanks
00:38:47Semi line break and just probes the ball in behind for a well executed 50-22
00:38:51In a great opening half an hour from that man Sam Prendergast
00:38:56You can be pulling what's left of his hair out though
00:38:59They'll be so frustrated it's the same shape over and over again
00:39:03You're a man down you've got to defend with some width move move you've got to leave the line out
00:39:06alone
00:39:07You're gonna leave the breakdown alone you've got to try and get wider and put some pressure and move off
00:39:11the pass
00:39:11Tom Shanklin outlined before the game the the bulls defend narrow anyway with 14 it just leaves bigger spaces out
00:39:18there
00:39:21Here's James low
00:39:23Jamie Osborne
00:39:24Gibson park I think that was enough forward not just off his foot but off his hand as well referee
00:39:29agrees
00:39:29A little bit of relief for the bulls
00:39:33It's grobbler he's really saved his team there because maybe i'm wrong
00:39:37This looks so dangerous bulls are getting more and more passive with the shapes that are coming out
00:39:41But keep your head on your eyes on the red scrum hat here gets back in creates chaos at the
00:39:46breakdown
00:39:47Yeah, doesn't win the turnover but creates enough chaos that the ball spits out the back and it's a forced
00:39:51knock on
00:39:53Okay, can we carry can we carry on can we carry on
00:39:59I can't be wrong like you guys
00:40:02And we carry on
00:40:03Terrific
00:40:03You said it so yeah, I know
00:40:07You're
00:40:08See
00:40:08It was like a long time ago when we were here in land four and leinster lost to munster
00:40:19Such a bad start to the season the question was could they just find a path to the top eight
00:40:25Crouch
00:40:26Six and sevens at that point they've
00:40:29Boy together and dug in as leo colomis on numerous occasions
00:40:35Ethan tries
00:40:36And they're getting
00:40:38All the breaks right now they're earning all the breaks right now
00:40:43James low has been involved in just about everything not sure the bulls were back the required distance
00:40:49Osborne
00:40:51And could see I get to take them out that kind of is
00:40:53Osborne gets his knees to the ground and back for another penalty
00:40:59And the bull is 60 the right they look at it and shall show you to play the ball
00:41:02Yeah, it's a frustrating one for Marcel could see you there
00:41:06He's on the ground create them all
00:41:09And just as you're ripping the ball free the attacking player gets me on the ground
00:41:13After release yes, it's right go side in here to continue to build a score pushing it out
00:41:18To a four score game
00:41:20And no prizes for
00:41:23Four or five or six tries just one prize
00:41:26We have to finish ahead at the end of the day and they're going right about it the right way
00:41:38How long for the yellow card guys
00:41:43Frustrating open 31 minutes john for this bulls team they feel like they haven't really thrown a punch yet
00:41:49They'll go down there
00:41:50They'll go down to that's that partly because of
00:41:53Their own mistakes but more so their own defense
00:41:56Over eager too tight
00:41:58Not able to read the plays that are coming out of them and it's very hard to do left
00:42:02There are the masters at it taking the ball to the line
00:42:06There's almost no recovery time
00:42:08Will it be better if I let my mind just wait for it and it's stabilized
00:42:11Yes
00:42:14We speak later we speak later
00:42:23Yeah staying camp just having a word of the referee about the issues at the scrum
00:42:32It's another good clearing kick
00:42:35I've quite enjoyed seeing the spiral mads
00:42:37That's when you know the confidence is high
00:42:39Yeah tight spiral
00:42:41Screaming through the air
00:42:43It's the only real negative for leinster in the opening half hour and kaylan doris on the bench
00:42:48You know that annie farrell will be looking at that one with concern as well as
00:42:52Ireland heads south for three tests against australia japan and new zealand
00:43:02Again the bulls line are under pressure
00:43:08Just gets up so quickly
00:43:11Someone like him is he'll jump without any lifters knowing that i'm so quick off the ground
00:43:16Not on this occasion but just get up there
00:43:21Throw along james ryan know they can get back to him and get him in the air
00:43:26It's forcing so much pressure
00:43:27The psychology of it for the throw as well is not easy knowing he's got to get that ball double
00:43:32tops otherwise
00:43:33It's going to be pinched
00:43:35And not straight up forcing the balls
00:43:38Pressure potentially forcing his way into the irish squad if kenandaris is forced out with injury he could be the
00:43:44next cab on the block
00:43:55Croke park's been a happy home by and large perleinster played six one five in their games here and it
00:44:02was osborne and
00:44:03Conan who's had such an impact since he came on
00:44:06Look to build on that 22 point lead hard to believe
00:44:16Prendergast
00:44:17Good vision osborne bad execution
00:44:20Trying to ship it on i think he didn't realize he had a little bit more time and he won't
00:44:27well
00:44:27You won't appreciate the replay that's about to come his way
00:44:31I don't think he was anticipating that
00:44:34Prendergast would go for that low percentage pass
00:44:38Very ambitious perfectly weighted oh he's trying to flick it on that's what's happening you're right well remember what we
00:44:44spoke before the game
00:44:45It's the time john that this bulls defense is giving Prendergast to pick his options
00:44:49Just can't do that with him he's too good a ball player to give him that time
00:44:53He's got to get in his face put him under pressure
00:44:55I will have a look on them
00:44:56People talk about rhythm of attack i think there's a rhythm to defense and i think the bulls are lacking
00:45:01at the moment suddenly you're chasing shadows
00:45:03You're over folding you're maybe over analyzing the way you think the play is going to go because lentz can
00:45:07attack you both sides
00:45:08I think gibson park's probably the best in the world attacking both sides of the breakdown and
00:45:12Doing it at speed the bulls are going to try and find a bit more rhythm
00:45:16Also they've got to find some field position
00:45:19I do think they do smell blood at scrum time they're going to want a penalty here that would give
00:45:22them great field position
00:45:28Bulls trying to get something out of this scrum
00:45:31Papier is told to get on with it
00:45:33And Pollard down the narrow side jacob sees a barrel of a man and Prendergast couldn't put him down
00:45:41Fired back to nowhere in particular Nokia picks it up and low
00:45:47Gets the bulls going forward but it's not controlled they do have advantage though
00:45:53We have a penalty is against jerry care i think
00:45:56Of feet
00:45:59Therefore papier nothing comes of that they will get the penalty and surely they'll go to the corner
00:46:05Number one player of it willy larue is back
00:46:08And the bulls have got a full 15
00:46:1220 minutes of the 36 plays they played with 14
00:46:18It's tough enough for 15 on the pitch let me tell you against lencer it's not easy
00:46:23It doesn't feel too premature to be saying ryle that 22 no down 37 minutes on the clock
00:46:29Have a look at this penalty clearly our feet that the bulls are going to score they've got to go
00:46:33in at halftime with something on the board
00:46:36There we go we go we go
00:46:39Okay he's okay he's okay
00:46:41Six
00:46:45Grab a lot clean line out for the bulls there have been precious few of those can they create something
00:46:51with that clean ball
00:46:52Pollard took it up up here
00:46:55And now
00:46:57And try and push some holes
00:47:00Really low
00:47:0113 times cap for the spring box willy larue will be keen to make amends can a movie also but
00:47:08it's not forward
00:47:12With all the experience and all the ability in that bulls side
00:47:18It's genuinely surprising that they look as shell-shocked as they do
00:47:22It looks labored
00:47:24The longer that ball's in the air there it's not kane and moody's fault
00:47:28It's a really lazy pass from larue time in the air against the blitz defense that's going to come at
00:47:33you
00:47:33Yeah, I say they got two and one
00:47:36Doesn't manage to hold on to the ball, but again you got
00:47:39Clear 21 played two phases one we bring it back and it wasn't on to come back and they go
00:47:42they go through with anyway
00:47:43You've got to punch holes. That's where they look strong
00:47:46Even though you've got that
00:47:54That body's got some mileage on it now
00:47:58thomas clarkson of course
00:48:00A very able replacement should type furlong need to come out but
00:48:05Having had a kind of stuck starting season for a lot of you guys couple of niggles
00:48:12He's keen to continue
00:48:15They're loving us. They are loving us
00:48:21Okay, we got
00:48:24Okay, a little bit straighter on this side both of you straight
00:48:28Straight a little bit more, okay? A little bit more. Don't step out
00:48:34Let's go
00:48:34To get the feeling john on the last run the bulls are beginning to get the squeeze on
00:48:41Quite getting both sides of the scrum up
00:48:43very close
00:48:44They're out here
00:48:45I get that they could have had a penalty advantage
00:48:48Last run in particular they would they definitely would have left that scrub feeling like
00:48:51We should have got more we could have asked more from the referee he was desperate for them to play
00:48:55at the back
00:48:57He's gonna come after this though
00:49:03Prendergast with a good clearing kick from a tight angle
00:49:08His mental resilience after the season that he's had
00:49:13He's shining through on this day
00:49:15Yeah, definitely is look at this
00:49:17There's ups and downs
00:49:19For any player but don't mind playing in the 10 jersey never mind playing in 10 jersey for Leinster after
00:49:26Sexton's reign there was always going to be tough but
00:49:28He's shown resilience he's come back he's played well today
00:49:31He's more physical
00:49:44Is there anything in this first half of the bulls to build on
00:49:49All a little slow all a little labored
00:50:01And furlong turns and sets Leinster forward again
00:50:06Use it we didn't have any effect
00:50:10Gibson Park needs to get on with it and does here's joe mccarthy
00:50:15Gibson park gets the call from tommy o'brien to go after it
00:50:18Nokia was back there did really well
00:50:21Well that in a moment is the story of the bulls first half
00:50:29Yeah, yeah pretty much ryle it's been a poor
00:50:32First 38 minutes by the bulls and we spoke about before the game that we expected this to be
00:50:37We go much closer than it was last year but we go if you need time to carbon copy of
00:50:42last year just
00:50:43Yeah, you go out
00:50:44Shell shocked unable to deal with what Leinster have thrown at them
00:50:48Okay
00:50:49Just test because the cat's down just don't even get me checked if it's down
00:50:52Bring your knees up
00:50:53Real concern here for Tommy O'Brien
00:50:55Yeah, his face tells the story of someone who's concerned
00:51:01It just looked like an awkward landing as he goes up to compete and he gets nudged in the air
00:51:05He wasn't able to land clean
00:51:09Okay, apologies, I don't want to put you in trouble but like this you put me in trouble
00:51:13Okay, you go out and we carry on with the game
00:51:24Guys, I'm serious right now, okay
00:51:30Scrum
00:51:37Watch that right leg
00:51:39I just wasn't quite able to get his plant foot down cleanly
00:51:45It's hard to know exactly what's happened there
00:51:46But here we go
00:51:47Unfortunately looks very uncomfortable
00:51:49Big loss for Leinster and Ireland
00:51:53Heading into their summer tour
00:51:5414 he's out
00:51:57Yeah, he's
00:51:59Well, they're going to give him a minute I think
00:52:02Gary Ringrose is ready
00:52:04He was stopped from coming in and Tommy O'Brien has said just
00:52:08Let me play out
00:52:10One more time
00:52:11I don't want to make this up
00:52:12They don't make this up
00:52:13It's not an issue
00:52:16It's probably going to be getting
00:52:17Half-time isn't it 40 seconds
00:52:18You can get properly assessed in the changing rooms
00:52:22When you pick up this one you can run off
00:52:24There's something that
00:52:26Ringrose has to enter the train but
00:52:28Pretty handy replacement to have in Gary Ringrose
00:52:30You'd imagine they shift you out to the wing
00:52:34A little bit of South African instruction and encouragement
00:52:43Here we go
00:52:51He'll have been delighted with that first half
00:52:53By
00:52:54Go
00:52:54Set
00:52:57Stability now
00:52:5920 seconds left in this first half, Prendergast knocks it forward and
00:53:06out it goes, referee is surely going to award the scrum and does.
00:53:11I know you guys, that was cool but I wasn't sure it was a catch.
00:53:24If you're Johan Ackerman, what do you say at half time?
00:53:27How do you try and pull this together?
00:53:30Do you go back to say, look, we were in this position in the semi-final?
00:53:34How do you even begin to build up?
00:53:37Yeah, I mean, in the aftermath of that game,
00:53:40we asked Johan Ackerman what we said,
00:53:42and it was just to try and get something on the board early.
00:53:45Just get out there and try and impose themselves on Glasgow
00:53:49and trust in the systems that they have in place that that would be enough.
00:53:5522-0 down, it's an uphill battle.
00:53:58I think this is a slightly different challenge in a final against a team like Leinster who
00:54:03very hard to claw back when they get this far ahead.
00:54:06So they have to cut out the air in the game, there'll be some stuff to look at defensively,
00:54:11because that's where most of the trouble's coming from.
00:54:12How do we stop this Leinster attack?
00:54:14Ultimately, that's what starved them of all possession in this game.
00:54:21That's a good scrum for the Bulls, and they get the advantage that they were seeking,
00:54:26and they've been seeking the whole way through the opening 40 minutes.
00:54:30They finally get some change out of that scrum.
00:54:32Here's Kotsia.
00:54:35Ball is out.
00:54:36Adam Sous has not got a chance in attack to do anything,
00:54:40but the Bulls will get a penalty, and they've simply got to continue
00:54:45and try and find something before half-time.
00:54:47Yeah, when you talk about the momentum of the game,
00:54:52there's gonna be one action that changes it.
00:54:54Quite often it's three.
00:54:55That's the first one, scrum dominance.
00:54:57Good kick from Pollard to touch.
00:54:59Can they get their mall going and get a good launch play?
00:55:03Something on the scoreboard at half-time.
00:55:07Gary Ring-Rose is gonna come into the game.
00:55:10Tommy O'Brien can't continue as you watch that dominance.
00:55:15Six.
00:55:16Bulls scrum.
00:55:17And as you suggested, John Barkland.
00:55:20Rico Ioanni goes to the wing, Ring-Rose into the centre.
00:55:23Bit like Caelan Doris.
00:55:26Question not just about today, but about the international tour.
00:55:31For Bryan as well as Caelan Doris.
00:55:35Penalty for the Bulls.
00:55:37Contact in the air is the referee,
00:55:38and they're inching their way downfield
00:55:41courtesy of a couple of penalties from Leinster.
00:55:46Yeah, penalty, penalty.
00:55:47This is the piggyback of the pitch that they would've been looking for.
00:55:51Oh dear, oh dear.
00:55:54Trying to get every bit out of it.
00:55:56He got nothing.
00:55:57And that's pretty much the Bulls first half.
00:56:00Discipline.
00:56:01Accuracy.
00:56:02Tempo.
00:56:03All off kilter.
00:56:05For Leinster.
00:56:06Three tries.
00:56:07They've been dominant.
00:56:08It's been a pretty complete performance from the defending champions.
00:56:12They lead us by 22 points, Tamir.
00:56:21Welcome back.
00:56:22It's the climax of the domestic season today.
00:56:24But international rugby starts on Premier Sports tomorrow.
00:56:28Half past one Barbarians against South Africa.
00:56:30And then the Junior World Championships, they start next Saturday.
00:56:34Italy, Scotland, England, Ireland, and South Africa against Uruguay,
00:56:39all on the opening day.
00:56:43Okay, we were hoping to hear from the Leinster attack coach,
00:56:47Tyler Blahendahl.
00:56:48Is he with Ryan?
00:56:49Over to you, Ryan.
00:56:51He is.
00:56:52Thanks for joining us, Tyler.
00:56:54In fact, in all aspects of attack there.
00:56:56But what's pleased you the most?
00:56:57Yeah, I just think we took a few opportunities there.
00:56:59We made some nice breaks down the edge.
00:57:01The run or kick decisions were good.
00:57:03Probably invited a bit of pressure on ourselves at the back end.
00:57:05That's what we want to tidy up.
00:57:06And that is it.
00:57:06It's about taking the opportunities,
00:57:08because you can see shaping up to kick
00:57:09and then suddenly seeing a bit of space and going after it.
00:57:11Is that the message that's been put across all week?
00:57:13Exactly.
00:57:14It's just playing what we see, but just making good decisions
00:57:16and then being more clinical when we get down to the end.
00:57:18I think we're maybe a little wasteful with a few opportunities around the goal line.
00:57:21So is that what we'll see now?
00:57:22Just making sure you play down the right end of the field,
00:57:24because Sam Prendergast has been playing unbelievably as well.
00:57:26Yeah, I think we'll see good balance.
00:57:28We'll play to the space, run or kick,
00:57:30and then, like I said, try to be a bit more clinical.
00:57:31All the best in the second half.
00:57:32Go well.
00:57:34Cheers.
00:57:35Well, he is delighted.
00:57:37As you'd imagine, all the Leinster fans be in this stadium.
00:57:40They've got one hand on that trophy.
00:57:43It is 22-0 at halftime.
00:57:46Shanks, I guess they've just got to keep doing what they're doing.
00:57:48Yeah, they do.
00:57:49Bulls are under a lot of pressure.
00:57:51Maybe the reset, maybe the halftime is coming at a good stage for him,
00:57:53but the Bulls can't win anything at the moment.
00:57:55They want to get back into this game.
00:57:56Line-out has to function.
00:57:57Defence has to function,
00:57:59because it's not been good enough in that first half.
00:58:01But a word of warning for those of you who tuned in to the semi-finals a fortnight ago.
00:58:0721-3 down the Bulls were against Glasgow, and they came back to win that game.
00:58:13This Bulls side, they know how to mount a comeback.
00:58:15So it's not done and dusted just yet.
00:58:18Although Leinster will be feeling understandably confident about their prospects in this second half.
00:58:23Time then to rejoin our commentary team way up in the gantry.
00:58:26It is John Barkley, Ian Madigan and Ryle Nugent.
00:58:30Thanks, Ross.
00:58:31Yeah, that was the point I was just about to make.
00:58:34This Bulls side, as recently as a fortnight ago,
00:58:37found themselves in a similar position away from home and found a way out.
00:58:41I think the difference this time, John Barkley,
00:58:44is that the first half performance from the Bulls was pretty abject.
00:58:49It was pretty abject in Edinburgh a few weeks ago as well,
00:58:52which is why this is, I suppose, so surprising to see.
00:58:56I think that maybe would have narrowed the focus or
00:58:59even come out with a bit more accuracy to the game.
00:59:02It wasn't through lack of trying, but the lack of accuracy,
00:59:05the lack of detail in how they've approached that opening half
00:59:07is the most surprising to me.
00:59:10Had a look at the numbers.
00:59:131-15, still there for the Bulls.
00:59:15I wouldn't have been surprised if he'd pulled eight and put on a new eight.
00:59:19John Ackerman after the disappointing approach of some of his players
00:59:23in that first half.
00:59:25Let's see what happens at the start of the second.
00:59:27It goes without saying.
00:59:28They need to score first, and Jacobs almost got away.
00:59:32The ball popped up nicely for Prendergast,
00:59:35and it's now with Osborne and downfield.
00:59:38It goes into a shower of rain and into the hands of Willy LaRue.
00:59:45Another two players, Sinbent, in the first half for the Bulls,
00:59:50and they really need to get that discipline, if nothing else,
00:59:53right at the start of this second half.
00:59:55Simply can't afford another yellow card.
00:59:58Backwards.
00:59:59No, no, backwards.
01:00:01Backwards.
01:00:02The ball knocked free, but not locked forward.
01:00:06And Leinster secure possession.
01:00:13No need, from Leinster's perspective, to do anything in a hurry.
01:00:19Accuracy basics will be the order of the day for the first ten minutes of the second half.
01:00:26Give nothing away.
01:00:28The difference in the kicking game is where we're all.
01:00:30We've hardly spoken about it.
01:00:32Leinster's kicking game has been so good.
01:00:34And that one's good from Tollard, and it brings Jacobs into the game again,
01:00:37and Prendergast defends well.
01:00:41Kane and Moody.
01:00:44And then it's knocked forward.
01:00:46And a little bit of hope turns to nothing for the Bulls,
01:00:51and Leinster have their hands on the ball,
01:00:53and they'll get the put into the scrum.
01:00:55Good kick cross field.
01:00:56Good take from Jacobs.
01:00:59Really impressive from Prendergast,
01:01:01because that man was coming at pace, Ian Madigan.
01:01:04Yeah, it's really good tackle selection here from Prendergast.
01:01:07He knows that Jacobs coming at pace.
01:01:09No, no, you're right.
01:01:09Just absorb him into the tackle, pull him over you.
01:01:12And then we're seeing the effects of that shower we've had over halftime
01:01:17and leading into the start of this second half.
01:01:18The ball's really slippy.
01:01:20Unable to handle that one.
01:01:21Just as they were beginning to get a foothold into the Leinster 22.
01:01:25Well, the Leinster players is down.
01:01:27It may well be Prendergast, is it?
01:01:29No, it's not.
01:01:30Again, please.
01:01:30Again.
01:01:31It's Hugo Keenan.
01:01:32No, I'm telling you, please.
01:01:33Okay.
01:01:34A massive collision as he went up for that aerial contest up on the halfway line.
01:01:39We go.
01:01:41It'll be more just an impact bang than anything pulling or any ligament damage.
01:01:46It's the first half then, man.
01:01:48And the first half?
01:01:49Yes.
01:01:50Say again.
01:01:51Anything for the first half?
01:01:52No, sorry.
01:01:53First half.
01:01:54Nice high, Anderson, like for the first half.
01:01:58The final scrum of the first half, we saw the Bulls get a level of pressure, a level of dominance
01:02:04that I think we expected to see from them for the very first scrum.
01:02:07It'll be interesting to see how this one goes.
01:02:10It was probably the only positive for Bulls in that first half was their scrum, and the game can change
01:02:15quickly.
01:02:16If you can gain a foot hold, it can suddenly give you access into a game, you really have no
01:02:19right to be anything.
01:02:20It's hard.
01:02:21You can have strong penalties.
01:02:23The Leinster have done a great job there.
01:02:24That's really good from Kerr and Furlong.
01:02:27Don't underestimate it.
01:02:29That's against one of the, well, the best scrum in the URC.
01:02:34Yeah, you can see Jerry Kerr's body position there.
01:02:37I was talking to Mike Ross earlier today, saying how impressed he is with Kerr's body position and how he
01:02:43stays really close to his hooker.
01:02:45Not giving Klopper any opportunity to get in and put the pressure on through the middle of that Leinster scrum.
01:02:50Smart play on there, put in John to get it in and out nice and quickly.
01:02:54Yeah, just solid.
01:02:56You've got to get, if you're against a bigger man, you've got to get low and you've got to get
01:02:59into position early.
01:03:01That's exactly what Kerr did.
01:03:03Ranorki wins a complicated line out for the Bulls.
01:03:07And Lowe was there as well.
01:03:09Now it's Marcel Katsia.
01:03:13McCarthy gets a hand on that.
01:03:16Where's this one's off too.
01:03:17Adamson can't get a hold of it and eventually does and then gets a face full of McCarthy.
01:03:23And he's ragdolled down by Kelleher and Co.
01:03:27Where's the ball?
01:03:28It's there for...
01:03:29He throws Papier.
01:03:32And it spills.
01:03:35And Leinster look to go, Prendergast.
01:03:38Osborne protects.
01:03:40Van der Vlir, great hands for Conan.
01:03:42That runs backwards by his own.
01:03:44And advantage is over as Keenan scampers back infield to the safety of numbers.
01:03:49Prendergast.
01:03:52Lift.
01:03:53Dance, dance.
01:03:55Run out.
01:03:56There for Gibson Park.
01:03:57Try to lift their voice again.
01:03:59Prendergast sends one into the 22.
01:04:01It could create chaos.
01:04:03It does create chaos.
01:04:05Ringrose comes up with it.
01:04:07Leinster on the verge of scoring first in this second half.
01:04:12And surely it would be a knockout blow.
01:04:16Van der Vlir, big hit.
01:04:19Stopped in his tracks.
01:04:21McCarthy.
01:04:22Up quickly comes Hanukum.
01:04:25Yeah, get out, get out.
01:04:26Gibson Park, ball retains.
01:04:28Jerry Kerr off to Connacht.
01:04:30Next season.
01:04:31What a signing they've got.
01:04:34Gibson Park.
01:04:35Van der Vlir again.
01:04:38Could see it in there.
01:04:40Low as well.
01:04:42Conan.
01:04:43Engine keeps purring.
01:04:45He keeps driving forward.
01:04:48Tyg Furlamp looked as comfortable out there this evening as he has all season.
01:04:53Slower ball.
01:04:55Slower delivery.
01:04:58But ball retention crucially for Leinster.
01:05:01Use it!
01:05:03Through the phases they continue to go.
01:05:08How about White?
01:05:09Conan again the one to drag Leinster forward for a yard more.
01:05:16Roman Kelleher the latest to go.
01:05:19Use it!
01:05:20And Leinster quite happy to take their time.
01:05:23And to do with the Bulls.
01:05:25That they so often do to others.
01:05:28And now they've drawn the penalty.
01:05:29They've drawn the advantage.
01:05:30They get a free play.
01:05:31And no better man than Gibson Park.
01:05:34To try and create something with Prendergast and Osborne.
01:05:37And it's there for Prendergast.
01:05:39And I think he's got there.
01:05:40I think he's got there.
01:05:46Hurting the execution.
01:05:47But the pain may well be worse.
01:05:50But the TMO sees next.
01:05:53Anything clear?
01:05:55It's too tight.
01:05:57I don't have the on-field decision.
01:05:59So we go upstairs.
01:06:02Matteo, we're coming upstairs.
01:06:04We don't have the on-field decision.
01:06:06It's too tight.
01:06:06I'm not sure if you're grinding or not the ball.
01:06:08So please have a look.
01:06:10Okay, Andrea.
01:06:10So you have no on-field decision?
01:06:12No on-field decision.
01:06:13Okay.
01:06:15Playing under advantage, Leinster.
01:06:17Beautiful hands from Prendergast to Osborne.
01:06:20Tackle came in.
01:06:23That angle doesn't tell us.
01:06:25This one will.
01:06:29That's a try.
01:06:36It's the speed of the pick-up.
01:06:38When it's slow ball against big men, it doesn't work.
01:06:42But Prendergast, you've got to say, he's been brilliant this afternoon.
01:06:45But the speed of the pick-up saw the space.
01:06:48Didn't wait for support.
01:06:49Picked it up and powers through.
01:06:51You've got to say, Mads, that's a game-setting match.
01:06:56Yeah, I think it is.
01:06:57Okay.
01:06:58Leinster have done what the Bulls needed to do.
01:07:01Come out and score first.
01:07:03Quality play from Prendergast.
01:07:04You said it there, Royal.
01:07:05It's that penalty advantage.
01:07:07It's the position he takes up off.
01:07:09Gibson Park.
01:07:10Stretches that Bulls defense.
01:07:12Gets the offload away to Osborne.
01:07:14And then creates the quick ball.
01:07:16Great awareness.
01:07:16Get down.
01:07:18Score the try.
01:07:20Back it up with another two points.
01:07:23And the conversion, wouldn't you know it, goes over.
01:07:31McCarthy calls the initial consternation.
01:07:36And Ahrensa felt the full force of Leinster.
01:07:40Back about what move?
01:07:46Leave him, leave him, leave, leave.
01:07:4929 points to nil.
01:07:51You put him in.
01:07:54Thomas Clarkson, Dan Sheehan in for Leinster.
01:08:06Loads after this one.
01:08:08LeRue is there as well.
01:08:09And William LeRue gets it right.
01:08:12Aaron's at great feet.
01:08:17Top here, and then low.
01:08:30Could see it.
01:08:33In the side.
01:08:35In the sides.
01:08:36Very clear from the side.
01:08:37Number four.
01:08:39Again, just running back towards the right.
01:08:42Number four, Keane.
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