The Vodacom Bulls ended Leinster’s unbeaten run in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship with an emphatic victory at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon.
The Bulls were the last team to beat Leinster when they defeated the Irish giants in the 2021-22 URC semi-finals and, leading 31-0 at half time on Saturday, the hosts dominated the Irish tourists with their power game and pace out wide for a nine-try 62-7 victory in Pretoria.
Flyhalf Johan Goosen scored 17 points and fellow Springboks Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie each notched a brace of tries as the hosts closed out their league phase of the competition in scintillating fashion.
Try for the @Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby ?
They’re showing early dominance, and lead by 10 after 15 mins.#BULvLEI | @Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/MKoTs2v0P4
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) April 22, 2023
The Bulls dominated the first 40 minutes, scoring four converted tries. Goosen opened the scoring with his first strike from the kicking tee, before skipper Ruan Nortje crashed over from close range.
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Kurt-Lee finishes off a great try on the blind side ?#BULvLEI | @Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/67RZ7rYomM
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) April 22, 2023
The Kurt-Lee x Canan link up we love to see❤️#BULvLEI | @Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/oUWdnlUSKy
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) April 22, 2023
Goosen went into the break with an 11-point haul after converting hooker Johan Grobbelaar’s first touchdown of the match that secured the bonus point for the men in blue.
Bonus point secured ?
What a half from the @Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby ?#BULvLEI | @Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/LrkXIXKt2T
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) April 22, 2023
The Bulls picked up where they left off just after the break when Grobbelaar bagged his second and Moodie brilliantly touched down off a Goosen cross-kick, either side of a yellow card for Leinster prop Thomas Clarkson.
The @Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby are in full flight ?#BULvLEI | @Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/n5e6HF6dRp
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) April 22, 2023
Canan with the clutch from the heavens ?#BULvLEI | @Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/QzUI0rOiv4
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) April 22, 2023
Tries for Moodie, centres Stedman Gans and Harold Vorster and another six points from Goosen sealed the deal for the Bulls, who played the final five minutes with 14 men after lock Ruan Vermaak was sent to the naughty chair for 10 minutes, with a 53rd-minute converted try from replacement Michael Milne all the visitors had to show for their efforts on the day.
Jake White’s troops moved into fifth place on the log, though their stay there was contingent on the results of later matches involving Connacht and Munster. The Bulls needed to finish the season in the top six to qualify for the Champions Cup.
Photo: @BlueBullsRugby/Twitter