The clash between the Vodacom Bulls and Leinster at Loftus Versfeld was a gripping match with the Bulls securing a 21-20 win over the visitors with a converted penalty and time up on the clock.
The Vodacom Bulls took the early lead when Keagan Johannes converted a penalty in the second minute of play, however, Leinster struck back immediately with a "simple" try a minute later. Leinster attacked to the right of the field and quick hands by their backs had Jordie Barrett score in the opposite corner to take an early 07-03 lead.
The Bulls were initially rocked by the dominant defence by the visitors, however with time up on the clock Keagan Johannes converted his second penalty to cut Leinster's lead to just one point.
At the halftime break, Leinster enjoyed 60% territorial and possession "dominance," going into the halftime break "deserving" a bigger lead.
Andrew Osborne scored Leinster's second try within the first three minutes of the second half, extending Leinster's lead to 14-06 following a great conversion by Ross Byrne.
With twenty-three minutes still to play Leinster collapsed a maul by the Bulls well on its way to the tryline of Leinster, which was "rewarded" with a penalty try awarded to the Bulls, cutting Leinster's lead to three points.
During the final twenty minutes, there was a momentum shift in favour of the Bulls on the back of their powerful scrum which earned them several penalties.
Eventually, the Bulls scored a lineout-maul try when Johan Grobbelaar scored at the back to retake the lead 18-17 and ten minutes to play.
With three minutes to play Ross Byrne converted a long-distance penalty to retake the lead 20-18. With time up on the clock David Kriel converted a penalty to edge Leinster 21-20, ending Leinster's unbeaten streak of twelve matches.
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Penalty Try, Johan Grobbelaar. Penalties: Keagan Johannes (2), Richard Kriel.
Leinster: Tries: Jordie Barrett, Andrew Osborne. Conversions: Ross Byrne (2). Penalties: Ross Byrne (2).
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni. Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Nizaam Carr, 22 Zak Burger, 23. Devon Williams.
Leinster Rugby: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Hugh Cooney, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Andrew Osborne, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Luke McGrath (c), 8 James Culhane, 7 Will Connors, 6 Max Deegan, 5 Diarmuid Mangan, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 John McKee, 1 Jack Boyle. Replacements: 16 Stephen Smyth, 17 Ivan Soroka, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 Alex Soroka, 21 Scott Penny, 22 Fintan Gunne, 23 Ciarán Frawley.