Leinster set for grudge match against the Bulls in URC Grand Final
Vodacom Bulls 25
Hollywoodbet Sharks 13
THE VODACOM BULLS will be hoping to make it third time lucky after booking their return to another URC Grand Final with a 25-13 win against the Hollywoodbet Sharks in Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening.
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Ethan Hooker thought he had given the visitors a dream start in the seventh minute when he pounced for an intercept to score, but was deemed to be fractionally offside following a TMO review.
And the Bulls took full advantage of that narrow escape when Sebastian de Klerk wriggled through some despairing Sharks tackles for the game's opening try.
A slip from Sharks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse — castigated as the villain in last week's shootout win over Munster — gifted the Bulls a second try in the 21st minute, finished in the corner by Canan Moodie, for a 15-3 lead at the break.
But the Sharks fought their way back into the contest and trailed just 15-13 by the 52nd minutes, their tries coming through Makazole Mapimpi and Hooker.
That was as close as the visitors got, however, as Keagan Johannes extended the Bulls' lead with a penalty before Jesse Kriel crossed for the decisive try with 14 minutes to play, sealing their return to a third Grand Final in four seasons.
They'll travel to Croke Park for next Saturday's Grand Final (5pm) against a Leinster side who they beat in last season's semi-finals, and again when the sides met in the regular season in March.
Tickets, which will start at €20, go on sale at 10am on Monday.
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Irish Daily Mirror
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This is how fans can apply for tickets for the BKT URC Grand Final at Croke Park
Leinster's showdown with the Bulls in the URC Grand Final will take place at Croke Park next Saturday (kick-off 5pm). It will be the first meeting of the clubs in the decider, after both came through their semi-finals on Saturday afternoon. Leinster dismissed defending champions Glasgow Warriors 37-19 at the Aviva Stadium, while the Bulls saw off the Sharks 25-13 at Loftus Versfeld. The Bulls, who have beaten Leinster in two semi-finals in the last three seasons, must travel to Dublin as Leinster are the competition's first seeds after topping the League phase. The Bulls, who finished in second place, have lost two Grand Finals. Leinster - eight-time league champions - are striving for their first silverware since 2021. Supporters who want to get the best seats with a 10% early bird discount can register for a 24-hour pre-sale window that goes live on Sunday, June 8 at 10am by signing up at Once the pre-sale window ends at 9am on Monday, the general ticket sale will begin at 10am - with ticket prices starting from €20. The game will be broadcast live on TG4 and Premier Sports in Ireland.
The 42
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Leinster set for grudge match against the Bulls in URC Grand Final
Vodacom Bulls 25 Hollywoodbet Sharks 13 THE VODACOM BULLS will be hoping to make it third time lucky after booking their return to another URC Grand Final with a 25-13 win against the Hollywoodbet Sharks in Loftus Versfeld on Saturday evening. Advertisement Ethan Hooker thought he had given the visitors a dream start in the seventh minute when he pounced for an intercept to score, but was deemed to be fractionally offside following a TMO review. And the Bulls took full advantage of that narrow escape when Sebastian de Klerk wriggled through some despairing Sharks tackles for the game's opening try. A slip from Sharks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse — castigated as the villain in last week's shootout win over Munster — gifted the Bulls a second try in the 21st minute, finished in the corner by Canan Moodie, for a 15-3 lead at the break. But the Sharks fought their way back into the contest and trailed just 15-13 by the 52nd minutes, their tries coming through Makazole Mapimpi and Hooker. That was as close as the visitors got, however, as Keagan Johannes extended the Bulls' lead with a penalty before Jesse Kriel crossed for the decisive try with 14 minutes to play, sealing their return to a third Grand Final in four seasons. They'll travel to Croke Park for next Saturday's Grand Final (5pm) against a Leinster side who they beat in last season's semi-finals, and again when the sides met in the regular season in March. Tickets, which will start at €20, go on sale at 10am on Monday.
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Leinster head coach Leo Cullen is excited by the prospect of finishing out the season at Croke Park next weekend. That's after the Irish province overcame their recent United Rugby Championship semi-final hoodoo in clinical fashion at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Advertisement 2 Dan Sheehan and Jamie Osbourne bagged brace each in Leinster URC semi-final win over Glasgow in Dublin 2 Leinster now play the Bulls in the decider next weekend at Croke Park Playing in front of 15,762 spectators at the sparsely-populated Ballsbridge venue – a slight improvement on the 12,879 that attended their quarter-final win over Scarlets in the Aviva last weekend. Leo Cullen's side produced an accomplished display to defeat title holders Glasgow Warriors by 18 points and ease into next Saturday's showpiece in Croker. They will play the Bulls who saw off the Sharks 25-13 in today's all-South African semi-final. The Bulls got the better of Leinster at the penultimate phase of last season's URC – their third consecutive defeat at that stage of the competition – at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. Advertisement read more on rugby But 2024/25 has now seen the Blues going at least one step further in their pursuit for top league honours. Speaking after today's win, Leo Cullen is relishing another trip back to Croke Park for Saturday's final. He said: 'Particularly when you're in South Africa, I'm pinching myself really in those stadiums. You do pinch yourself a little bit. "Personally I have so much respect for those teams. We were in South Africa last year for a semi-final, obviously lost in Loftus. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union "It's not a great place to end the season. There's joy for us in the fact that we have another week together. It's great,' 'There are some great characters in the group that have been around a long, long time. Have been great servants to the club. I know every club will have their version of that as well. 'Big weekend' - Peter O'Mahony embarking on hectic gardening project as he aims to add '300 plants' 'It's making sure we have a great week now and get excited about putting on another performance. Show what it means to play for Leinster and show what it means to represent the province.' In an explosive start to the contest, Leinster and their Scottish counterparts both crossed over for tries inside the opening five minutes. Advertisement After Dan Sheehan dotted down in the third minute at the end of an elongated attack that was kick-started by Sam Prendergast booting an early penalty to touch. Glasgow immediately fired back as scrum-half George Horne bagged a five-pointer via a delicate chip into the '22' from Kyle Rowe. The fact that Horne couldn't match Prendergast in registering a successful conversion during these early exchanges ensured the hosts remained in a slender lead. And their cushion was extended to five points when Prendergast knocked over a routine penalty on 23 minutes. Advertisement The visitors were handed a reprieve after a Jamie Osborne try was retrospectively ruled out for a forward pass from Jamison Gibson-Park. But the Leinster outside centre eventually got his name on the scoresheet when a James Lowe offload released him for a 28th minute score in the left-corner. The eastern province were becoming more assured in their play as the action wore on and with Thomas Clarkson touching down in advance of front-row partner Sheehan claiming his second try of the half, they brought a commanding 25-5 buffer into the interval. Prendergast had been off-target with three of his four conversion attempts in the opening period and while he opted for a kickable penalty inside the opposition '22' at a right-hand angle 11 minutes into the second half. Advertisement His effort rebounded off the post and into the grateful arms of the Glasgow defence. Yet this wasn't a major concern for Leinster on the day and Cullen's men proceeded to place the outcome beyond any doubt in the third-quarter. Supplementing another Osborne try on 54 minutes – this time off an elaborate Gibson-Park pass – replacement back Ciaran Frawley got in on the scoring act with a simple five-pointer just shy of the hour mark. Glasgow eventually responded with impressive solo tries from Jamie Dobie and Sione Tuipulotu in the 72nd and 79th minutes respectively. Advertisement But despite not adding to their account in the closing quarter, Leinster comfortably advanced into next weekend's showdown at the home of the GAA. LEINSTER 37 GLASGOW WARRIORS 19 Scorers: Leinster: Tries: D Sheehan 2, J Osborne 2, T Clarkson, C Frawley. Cons: S Prendergast 2. Pens: S Prendergast. Glasgow Warriors: Tries: G Horne, J Dobie, S Tuipulotu. Cons: T Jordan 2. Leinster: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, J Osborne, J Barrett (C Frawley 56), J Lowe; S Prendergast (R Byrne 61), J Gibson-Park (L McGrath 70); A Porter (J Boyle 59), D Sheehan (R Kelleher 56), T Clarkson (R Slimani 56); J McCarthy, J Ryan (RG Snyman 56); R Baird, S Penny, J Conan (M Deegan 64). Advertisement Glasgow Warriors: J McKay; K Steyn, S Tuipulotu, T Jordan, K Rowe; A Hastings (S McDowall h-t), G Horne (J Dobie 52); J Bhatti (R Sutherland 45), G Hiddleston (J Matthews 45), F Richardson (S Talakai 45); A Samuel (M Williamson 45), S Cummings; E Ferrie (J Mann 73), R Darge, H Venter (M Duncan 59). Referee: A Piardi (FIR).
