URC Final: Leinster v Bulls - teams and prediction
FINAL PREVIEW: After 294 matches, we are down to the last two survivors as Leinster and the Bulls face off at Croke Park in the 2024-25 United Rugby Championship Final.
For the first time since the competition’s inception in 2021, when South Africa’s ‘big four’ joined the expanded Pro 14, the top two teams after the regular season will contest for the title.
It’s been a long time coming for Leo Cullen’s men who last won a trophy back in 2021 when they won the Pro 14 title against rivals Munster.
Similarly for the Bulls, Jake White’s side’s last silverware was secured in 2021 when they lifted a second successive Currie Cup trophy.
Both coaches since then have experienced finals heartbreak and now have the opportunity to turn their fortunes around.
Cullen’s Leinster fell short in three successive Champions Cup Finals between 2022 and 2024 whilst White’s Bulls came up short in the 2022 and 2024 URC Finals.
Cullen is excited for the challenge of facing a South African side in the URC Final for the first time.
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“It’s amazing to be here in a Final against a South African team such as the Bulls.
“If you look inside the stadium, you have the history of the Pro12 competition since its inception and before that until now where they display that first Final in December 2001.
“I pinch myself to be here and to now play the Bulls.”
The Leinster boss said that despite Leinster experiencing a title drought since 2021, he is confident that his side has enough experience to get this one over the line.
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“First thing is we got to a Final so that’s a positive,” Cullen told @rugby365com.
“Now we just try and prepare as best as we possibly can and produce a big performance on the day.
“I touched on some of the brandings around the stadium that the URC put together, so we’ve had some good days as well.
“There’s enough experience in the group now. The guys have experienced winning and losing in finals so that’s a great challenge for us.”
The Bulls’ travel record in the URC has been impressive with seven victories on the road.
Cullen was asked if that record puts more pressure on Leinster to get the win considering the visitors’ ability to get the job done away from home.
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“Possibly, I hope not, but possibly.
“They’ve travelled well throughout the season and had a good couple of wins in Ireland.
“They will be confident going into the game. They’ve got tons of international experience and I know Jake [White] tries to play that down.
“If you think of some of the players that had played for the Bulls over the years, they’re a team we’ve always greatly admired.
“We are little old Ireland if you think in terms of South Africa and what they’ve achieved in the international game.
“We know it’s going to be a huge challenge so we won’t be reading too much in terms of the finals they’ve lost.”
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Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White touched on his side’s positive record on the road and is hopeful that their ‘recipe’ will continue to reap the rewards in the Final.
White also praised Leinster as one of the benchmark teams in the world and said that the venue is irrelevant because of how clinical they are.
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“We’ve toured quite well this year and our win record is better than most,” said White.
“I don’t know why that is but we’ve happened to play well away from home.
“It’s a bit reminiscent of when I was at the Brumbies. We went through 11 games unbeaten away from home.
“Sometimes when you’ve got that recipe going that way for you, it counts in your favour because you enjoy being together.
“When you win, those memories and feelings you have when you get back [home] as a group is something special as well.
“There’s no doubt that it doesn’t matter where we play Leinster, they’re a quality team and I’ve said it many times.
“They are the benchmark of not just the URC, but club rugby all over the world.
“Toulouse and Leinster are the two teams everyone wants to try and emulate.
“So, it doesn’t matter where we play, whether it’s at Croke Park or Lansdowne Road, the RDS or in South Africa.
“The challenge is exactly the same. We’re going to have to play well to beat them.”
The Bulls will be hoping that it’s a case of third-time lucky in finals after losing in their previous two URC appearances.
Captain Ruan Nortje, however, said that what happened in the past is irrelevant and that their focus is solely on Saturday’s big dance.
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“I wouldn’t say we take anything from that [losing two Finals]. It’s a new year, Saturday is a new game and a new Final.
“We don’t take anything into account in what happened in previous years. We can just go on what we’ve been doing this year.
“Like coach [Jake White] said, we have been good away from home for some reason and the group has been getting on quite well especially on tour.
“We enjoy each other’s company and have good times together and that camaraderie just gets better.
“We’ve just got to go out this weekend and give it everything we’ve got. That’s the only thing we can do.”
Players to watch
For Leinster: Jimmy O’Brien stands in for the injured Hugo Keenan and will face a big test from the Bulls’ kickers. Jordie Barrett’s versatility to switch between positions in the game and his experience will be crucial for the hosts to get their dangerous backs such as James Lowe and Garry Ringrose into space. In the pack, flank Josh van der Flier’s breakdown ability could cause the Bulls a few headaches and hooker Dan Sheehan’s ability to play tight and loose will make him a marked man.
For the Bulls: The experience of Willie le Roux will be vital for communicating and executing plays for his fellow backs. Sebastian de Klerk had a stellar semifinal performance and will be key to getting the visitors on the front foot. In the pack, all eyes will be on the loose trio of Marcell Coetzee, Ruan Nortje and Marco van Staden who replaces the injured Cameron Hanekom. The front row has been impressive all season with Wilco Louw at the heart of the Bulls pack that will look to dominate Leinster up front to gain good momentum.
Prediction
@rugby365com: Bulls by three points
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 (captain), 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 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Ruan Nortje (captain), 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.
Date: Saturday, June 14
Venue: Croke Park, Dublin
Kick-off: 17.00 (18.00 SAST; 16.00 GMT)
Forecast: 18 degrees Celcius – Mostly cloudy with a couple of showers; Wind W 15 km/h; Humidity 81 percent; probability of precipitation 68 percent
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Picture credits: @Inpho Photography – inpho.ie
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