0'
KICK-OFF! The Bulls start the match with a kick into the Leinster half, which Leinster kick back to the visitors…
0'
Our referee tonight is Craig Evans from Wales, and he will be assisted by Chris Busby and Andy Fogarty, both of Ireland. Our TMO is Ben Whitehouse from Wales.
0'
Bulls: 15 Willie Le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (cc), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Harold Vorster.
0'
Leinster: 15 Jordan Larmour, 14 Rob Russell, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath (captain), 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Cian Healy. Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Caelan Doris, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Liam Turner.
0'
The Bulls have also had three comfortable wins in their last three matches. They beat the Lions 25-10 away, beat the Stormers 40-22, before beating the Dragons 31-10 away.
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Leinster have enjoyed three relatively easy wins in their last three matches. They beat Benetton 47–18 at home, followed by a 20-33 away win over Cardiff, and in their last match they beat Zebre Parma 7–31 away.
0'
The Bulls have won two of the last three matches between the teams, with Leinster claiming one win.
0'
Both sides have won their last five matches, Leinster scoring 28 tries to the Bulls' 21 tries. Leinster have a 119 point difference over those five matches, while the Bulls have a points difference of 62 points.
0'
Bulls: 15 Willie Le Roux, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 David Kriel, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marcell Coetzee (captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (cc), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Harold Vorster.
0'
Leinster: 15 Jordan Larmour, 14 Rob Russell, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Jamie Osborne, 11 James Lowe, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath (captain), 8 Jack Conan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Joe McCarthy, 4 Ross Molony, 3 Michael Ala’alatoa, 2 Rónan Kelleher, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Tadhg Furlong, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Caelan Doris, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Liam Turner.
0'
Good evening and welcome to the RDS Arena in Dublin, where we have a cracker in story for you tonight! The two teams at the top of the United Rugby Championship go head to head – it's 1st-placed Leinster against No 2 on the table the Bulls!
2'
Leinster knock-on jumping for a high ball, and the Bulls will feed the scrum near the halfway line.
4'
The scrum struggled to happen and the Bulls are awarded a penalty, and they kick it into the Leinster 22 for a lineout.
5'
Bulls win the line, run the line and push forward on Leinster… there's a chip into the Leinster 22 but it's taken by the home side who kick and charge to past the halfway line, putting pressure on the Bulls…
7'
Leinster knock-on on the halfway line and the Bulls feed the scrum… they drive Leinster to their 10m and then they peel off and hammer away at the Leinster defence… and they've won a penalty!
8'
The penalty is halfway between the halfway line and the Leinster 10m line, and almost in line with the posts…
9'
PENALTY, BULLS, GOOSEN! 0-3; Johan Goosen slots it over from 5m to the left of the posts. Good effort from the visitors who deserve the lead.
11'
Good running from Leinster, who take the attack the Bulls at pace… but they are blown for a forward pass.
13'
Bulls kick to touch, win the lineout, run the line and are brought down… and it's another penalty and a chance for Goosen to kick for poles from almost on the centre spot.
14'
PENALTY, BULLS, GOOSEN! 0-6; Johan Goosen slots it over again, this time from a couple of centimeters inside his own half… the kick just having the legs to clear the cross bar to raise them Irish flags.
16'
Leinster pushing at the Bulls defence, winning a scrum… running blind but being tackled into touch (always the problem going blind),
18'
TRY, LEINSTER, VAN DER FLIER! 5-6; Josh van der Flier rounds off a magnificent spell of running rugby, drawing the man and taking the tackle, and passing onto a supporting team-mate. Great awareness and pace. Brilliant try. Van der Flier hurt himself trying to turn to dot under the posts and was bashed into the post cushioning, and it was lucky he didn't spill it.
19'
CONVERSION, LEINSTER, BURNS! 7-6; Harry Burns has no problem smashing it through the posts from under the posts.
21'
Leinster back on the attack driving forward powerfully.
23'
The teams scrum 5m from the Leinster 22m… Bulls feed the pack but the Bulls are penalised although the left side of the Leinster scrum fell to ground easily. Leinster kick for the line-out, run the ball… and beautiful chip forward runs into the Bulls corner for a Bulls lineout. Leinster are on fire at the moment.
26'
CLOSE! David Kriel comes closes to what could have been a dangerous intercept, but he loses the ball forward in the tackle and Leinster have the scrum.
27'
Leinster run into the Bulls 22 and are fouled… they kick for the 5m lineout… they win it and press for the line…
29'
TRY, LEINSTER, KELLEHER! 12-5; Leinster force themselves through the Bulls defence and over the line, Rónan Kelleher being discovered with ball in hand once the maul was unpacked.
30'
Burns' conversion from 7m in from touch on the left side of the field is good but it just slides past the right upright. Well… good but not good enough for points!
32'
Bulls push forward and drive Leinster back to their 22m… Luke McGrath clears from the base of his scrum to relieve some pressure.
34'
TRY, BULLS, ARENDSE! 12-11; Bulls win a scrum inside their half, two quick passes and Kurt-Lee Arendse gets the ball on the Leinster 10m line and sprints through for the try. McGrath clatters into him one foot from the tryline but with no arms… TMO is looking at this.
35'
Goosen's conversion attempt from the right touchline is wide and there's just one point in it between these two sides on top of the table.
36'
YELLOW CARD, LEINSTER, MCGRATH. The Leinster captain has 10 minutes in the bin for a standing tackle with no arms. He also took a whack to the head so it will be to his benefit to have some time to unrattle himself… although the Bulls have a 15-14 advantage that they reallay need to profit from.
36'
YELLOW CARD, LEINSTER, MCGRATH. The Leinster captain has 10 minutes in the bin for a standing tackle with no arms. He also took a whack to the head so it will be to his benefit to have some time to unrattle himself… although the Bulls have a 15-14 advantage that they reallay need to profit from.
38'
Great running and driving from the Bulls to the Leinster 5m, they're pressuring the line but Leinster steal the ball and clear the danger.
39'
Bulls run hard at Leinster, another great run from Kurt-Lee Arendse until he is blocked by Leinster… the teams maul and there's a penalty for the Bulls and Goosen will kick for the lead.
40'
HALF-TIME. LEINSTER 12-14 BULLS. A thrilling contest, with Leinster showing great pace and brilliant passing, but the Bulls have them matched. This is going to be a thrilling second half and the Bulls will want to come out storming to benefit from their man advantage for another five or six minutes. Be back shortly with all the action.
40'
PENALTY, BULLS, GOOSEN! 12-14; Goosen nails his kick from near the Leinster 22m and from almost in front of poles. And with that we're already into the red of the clock so it's time for a cup of tea and a rub down from the masseuse - I hope the players get the same treatment.
41'
KICK-OFF! Leinster start the second-half with a kick-off and a man short…
43'
Leinster win the line and run left… maul, then run back right and try to break the 22… they keep pressing and into the 22m…
43'
Leinster press forward, win a penalty near the Bulls 22 and kick to the right 5m line for the lineout… try to press forward but are held up and win another penalty, kicked to the 5m…
44'
TRY, LEINSTER, LOWE! 17-14; Superb play from Leinster, going to the blindside from the maul, James Lowe collecting and driving over for the try!
45'
CONVERSION, LEINSTER, BURNS! 19-14; Burns's kick from the right corner is wide, wide… curling back in… and THROUGH for two!
47'
TRY, LEINSTER, MILNE! 24-14; Most magnificent try, Leinster ducking and weaving, passing for fun backwards, then left with a side flick… stunning interplay… and Milne finishes it off.
48'
CONVERSION, LEINSTER, BYRNE! 26-14; Another well-struck conversion from Byrne.
51'
More lovely running from Leinster into the Bulls half and through to the 5m where the battered Bulls break play up.
53'
Leinster pressing hard on the Bulls near their 5m, they win a penalty, kick 5m… win the lineout and press hard, but the home side is blown and the Bulls have the chance to clear with a penalty.
55'
Bulls kick for touch and win the lineout…
56'
BULLS AREN'T OUT OF THIS… great running from the Bulls, breaking through the home defence, the pass coming to Arendse who drives powerfully towards the corner where it looks like he is high tackled… Bulls have a penalty which they kick for the 5m…
58'
Leinster break the Bulls possession and drive down to the Bulls 22… they look frighteningly dangerous and their passing is phenomenal… but the Bulls break them down… Willie le Roux with a chip out of the 22 and the Bulls run onto it and drive up to the 22, super play from the Bulls. They win a penalty and kick for the 5m lineout on the right touchline…
60'
Bulls win the line drive, press, push, run, pass… but eventually they are taken to ground and Leinster rip the ball from them and win a penalty, which they kick to just past their 10m line.
62'
Leinster push forward and win a scrum short of the Bulls 22, Jack Conan breaks powerfully and powers deep into the Bulls 22, they run the ball left and press for the line…
64'
TRY, LEINSTER, SHEEHAN! 31-14; The ball is run blindside and it's pretty simple for Sheehan to drive forward and over for the score. The Bulls suddenly look like they've lost their balloon.
65'
CONVERSION, LEINSTER, BYRNE! 33-14; Ross Byrne has come on in place of his brother, Harry, and he slots the conversion.
67'
Leinster pressing up again… his looks dangerous…
69'
TRY, LEINSTER, CONAN! 38-14; Leinster run the line, the second pass coming to No 8 Jack Conan who breaks the line, then runs through a Bulls tackle, gets back to his feet and crashes over for the try. He looks like he could have run through the whole Bulls side - the man is a monster and has pace to burn.
70'
CONVERSION, LEINSTER, BYRNE! 40-14; Byrne nails it from about 12m to the right of the poles and Leinster have cracked 40.
72'
Arendse intercepts a skip pass near the Leinster 22, turns on the burners and storms through for the try… but the TMO calls them back after the conversion was taken and DISAPPOINTING… the ref calls that Arendse kicked the back of a Leinster player in the buildup to that try… but there was nothing malicious, at full speed he was going for the ball… frankly a weak piece of officiating. Does the TMO have the right to call anything back? Doesn't seem right.
74'
TRY, LEINSTER, TURNER! 45-14; Typical… a try is scrubbed out and the hosts power through for another try. Really, if the Arendse try was a game changer then maybe it should be blown, but it's just given more momentum the Leinster. And there was McGrath's first half yellow that could have been a red. Oh well… the perils of playing away from home.
75'
CONVERSION, LEINSTER, BYRNE! 47-14.
77'
Leinster driving forward looking for more scores…
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