The Lions will not advance to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship playoffs after surrendering a 15-point lead to log-leaders Leinster at Ellis Park on Saturday night.
The tourists absorbed two yellow cards and then scored 18 unanswered points in the final quarter to negate a 26-14 half-time deficit and clinch a thriller 39-36.
Leinster struck in the opening phases of the contest as tighthead prop Vakhtang Abdaladze broke the line in the Lions 22 and won the race to the try-line.
The Lions bounced back soon after, winger Edwill Van Der Merwe showing some fancy footwork as he stepped four defenders to score from an attacking lineout.
Edwill van der Merwe is a try scoring machine ?! ? @Vodacom #URC | #LIOvLEI pic.twitter.com/HqJ0WHnMsd
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) April 15, 2023
Flyhalf Gianni Lombard then produced some individual brilliance, breaking the line and twice grubbering before gathering the ball to score the Lions’ second try.
READ: Leinster unveil Nienaber
Leinster then showed their class when outside centre Liam Turner capped off a fantastic team try from some excellent handling.
The Lions replied with some magic, Van Der Merwe throwing a big dummy before giving it to scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba who made an audacious out-the-back pass for Marius Louw to cross the whitewash.
Continuing to threaten on attack, the ball found No 8 Francke Horn on the wing and he beat several defenders to the try-line, claiming the bonus-point try as the Lions headed into the break with a 26-14 lead.
Moodie stars as Bulls trample Zebre
However, the lead was cut to just five when Leinster prop Michael Milne went over from a pick-and-go, but Nohamba replied with a penalty to push the difference to eight.
Leinster were then reduced to 13-men with two yellow cards – both for deliberate knock-ons that led to a penalty try and which left them trailing 36-21 after the third quarter.
Leinster flyhalf Sam Prendergast slotted a penalty and then set up replacement winger Rob Russell to score with a delicate cross-kick after a fortuitous bounce.
Rob Russell reaches over and secures the try for @leinsterrugby! ? @Vodacom #URC | #LIOvLEI pic.twitter.com/FB4hleYLUC
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) April 15, 2023
Fullback Chris Cosgrove levelled the scores, dotting down with minutes left to play as his try set up a grandstand finish. And Prendergast delivered the heartbreak for Lions supporters with a penalty right in front on the hooter as Leinster kept their perfect record.
Photo By Harry Murphy/Getty Images)