Leinster's trophy drought will extend to a third season after at tightly-contested, gripping United Rugby Championship semi-final defeat to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday.
The Bulls pipped them 25-20, with an incredible 67th-minute try from Peterson deciding the game.
Magic take from Peterson before putting the Bulls back into the lead. Goosen's conversion goes wide.
BULLS 25-20 LEIN
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It was an enthralling contest, even if the Bulls maintained the upperhand for most of it. It was a hugely attritional contest, and Scottish referee Sam Grove-White seemed happy to allow both teams to raise the physical stakes.
One passage of play left some Leinster fans feeling aggrieved. It came in the 56th minute of the game, with Leinster trailing by three. A ruck formed as Bulls winger Devon Williams rolled forward. Leinster scrum half Jamison Gibson-Park was cleared out by a Bulls forward. The clearout did not look safe on replay and Gibson-Park went off for a HIA. He did not return. Though there was an extended stoppage period around the incident, no foul play was flagged by the referee or the TMO.
Mmmkay
All I can say is that the other angle to this “clearout” on the now-departed JGP must be extraordinarily vindicating.#BULvLEI pic.twitter.com/bGpcenr6Iv— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) June 15, 2024
That clear out on Gibson-Park? #BULvLEI
— Clare Molloy (@ClareeMolloy) June 15, 2024
It must be said that Leinster benefitted from other refereeing decisions, with many South African fans wondering how Leinster lock Joe McCarthy avoided a number of penalties.
Being a South African I’m not allowed to talk about refereeing decisions without it being “typical Saffa blah blah blah”
So would an Irish fan like to explain that ruck incident with Joe McCarthy? 😂— Angus (@AnalystGus) June 15, 2024
Joe McCarthy could decapitate Goosen at this point and get away with it.
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) June 15, 2024
While Gibson-Park's loss was keenly felt in the game's final quarter, the Bulls were the better team over the 80 minutes and fully deserved their victory.
Van der Flier on Leinster's loss
The consequences for Leinster, following yet another season without a trophy, will reverberate throughout the summer. However, the implications for Ireland are equally significant, as they prepare to face the Springboks at the same venue, with a substantial number of Leinster players in the squad.
From our point of view, it's very disappointing. We played a very good Bulls side. Any big club match like this with a good side like the Bulls has very fine margins.
There wasn’t much in it. It could have gone either way up to the very end credit to the Bulls. It’s a brilliant piece of individual skill to get that try in the corner.
There’s never much in these games, and it's disappointing to come out the wrong side of it. Well done to the Bulls, and we wish them the very best of luck for next week
