PRO14 champions Leinster hosted Rainbow Cup SA winners Vodacom Bulls in a much-anticipated fixture. Leinster took control of the game immediately, scoring 17 points within the first 12 minutes of the game. Leinster continued their dominance to secure a well deserved 31-03 win over a game Vodacom Bulls.
04:27 Johnny Sexton convert a penalty for Leinster (03-00).
06:27 Josh vd Flier crushed over the Bulls tryline to score the first try for Leinster (10-00).
12:16 Andrew Porter scored Leinster 2nd try after the Bulls could not control a kick from the hosts (17-00).
20:00 Leinster started like a house on fire overwhelming the Bulls to open up a 17 points gap within 12 minutes. The Bulls, however, started to claw their way back into the game during the last 5 minutes of the first quarter.
22:12 Johan Goosen converted a penalty for the Bulls (17-03).
40:00 The Bulls are trying to play catchup rugby and made several wrong decisions on the attack. Leinster is exceptional with the ball in hand and makes a lot of ground when they attack. However, the Bulls are patient in the attack, lacking that breakout movement/player.
56:50 James Tracy scored Leinster's 3rd try from the back of a 5m lineout-maul (24-03).
60:00 Nothing much changed in the structure of the game with Leinster in control when needed.
69:49 Ross Byrne scored Leinster's 4th try as a tiring Bulls defence are not able to contain the Leinster attack (31-03)
Scorers:
Leinster: Tries: Josh vd Flier, Andrew Porter, James Tracy, Ross Byrne. Conversions: Johnny Sexton (3), Ross Byrne. Penalty: Johnny Sexton.
Vodacom Bulls: Penalty: Johan Goosen.
Leinster: 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Rory O’Loughlin, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Ciarán Frawley, 11. James Lowe, 10. Johnny Sexton (captain), 9. Luke McGrath, 8. Caelan Doris, 7. Josh van der Flier, 6. Rhys Ruddock, 5. James Ryan, 4. Ross Molony, 3. Michael Ala’alatoa, 2. Dan Sheehan, 1. Andrew Porter. Replacements: 16. James Tracy, 17. Ed Byrne, 18. Cian Healy, 19. Ryan Baird, 20. Max Deegan, 21. Jamison Gibson-Park, 22. Ross Byrne, 23. Jamie Osborne.
Vodacom Bulls: 15. David Kriel, 14. Cornal Hendricks, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Madosh Tambwe, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Zak Burger, 8. Elrigh Louw, 7. Arno Botha, 6. Marcell Coetzee (c), 5. Ruan Nortje, 4. Walt Steenkamp, 3. Mornay Smith, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16. Joe van Zyl, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Jacques van Rooyen, 19. Janko Swanepoel, 20. Jacques du Plessis, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Chris Smith, 23. Stedman Gans.