Bulls captain Ruan Nortjé: Leinster put us under pressure in every facet in URC final
Hooker Akker van der Merwe barged his way over for the only Bulls try against Leinster in the URC final. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
Bulls captain Ruan Nortjé bemoaned the poor start by his team in conceding three first-half tries in their 32-7 United Rugby Championship final defeat to Leinster in Dublin on Saturday.
The Pretoria side were hoping to break their URC final drought after losing in the 2022 and 2024 title deciders, but it was not to be at a wet Croke Park.
Captain and No 8 Jack Conan and All Black star Jordie Barrett scored in the opening quarter as Leinster claimed a 14-0 lead in as many minutes.
The Bulls, though, battled to get going from the opening stages as they seemed to lack the necessary intensity to place any kind of pressure on the home side.
They came second in the physicality stakes, lost possession at crucial times, and were inaccurate with their kicking game.
In stark contrast, Leinster were slick from the outset, converting their scoring opportunities with great efficiency.
The Bulls were also on the wrong side of Italian referee Andrea Piardi's whistle, but they only have themselves to blame as they struggled to put any phases together with ball-in-hand, and were harried into mistakes by the renowned Jacques Nienaber defensive system.
'First of all, credit to Leinster: they were amazing. We couldn't capitalise on anything. They put us under pressure in every facet of the game, and if you give Leinster a 19-0 start, it's going to be really tough to beat them,' Nortjé said in a post-match TV interview on SuperSport.
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'That first 20 minutes, they got off to a flyer, and we just wanted to implement what our game-plan, which was to play in the right areas and put them under pressure.
'Really proud of the boys for the season. There always has to be a loser, and unfortunately again today, it's us.
'But we take it on the chin, and all credit to Leinster. They thoroughly deserved this trophy today.
'We've got another opportunity next year. We can give it our all and get here again next year, and learn from the past three finals – and hopefully we can somewhere, work in a trophy.'
Replacement hooker Akker van der Merwe tried to spark a Bulls comeback with his try in the 51st minute from a lineout drive.
But even Bulls coach Jake White said it was a case of too little, too late for his outclassed team.
'Firstly, credit to them, and well done to Leo (Cullen, Leinster coach) – I know he's been under the pump for a bit,' White said in his post-match TV chat.
'To be fair, I thought that first 40 minutes almost seemed like we were under the pump. It was almost what the Leinster supporters have been waiting for all season.
'Not really (an opportunity to kick on from Van der Merwe's try). One thing Leinster do well is that they don't let you chase the game.
'They're very clinical once they get ahead, and I was quite happy that they were taking the three points because you can imagine... We were under the pump there.
'One of the things I really wanted to do was put all those youngsters on, so that they can feel the atmosphere of being in a final, because growing is also part of where we are as a group.'
Points-Scorers
Leinster 32 – Tries: Jack Conan, Jordie Barrett, Josh van der Flier, Fintan Gunne. Conversions: Sam Prendergast (2), Ross Byrne (1). Penalties: Prendergast (2).
Bulls 7 – Try: Akker van der Merwe. Conversion: Johan Goosen (1).
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