Kriel boots Bulls past Leinster

03/22/2025 01:28 PM

David Kriel kicked an 84th-minute penalty goal to give the Vodacom Bulls a dramatic victory against Leinster at Loftus on Saturday.

The penalty fittingly came from a powerful Bulls scrum on Leinster’s ball.

Replacement front-rowers Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Mornay Smith helped win a succession of second-half scrum penalties while two tries from lineout mauls (the first a penalty try) gave the Bulls a 18-17 lead with 10 minutes remaining.

But Bulls winger Sebastian de Klerk was then red-carded for taking out Leinster winger Andrew Osborne in the air, and flyhalf Ross Byrne’s 78th-minute penalty looked to have preserved the visitors’ unbeaten record this season.

However, with the clock deep in the red, the Bulls pack – and Kriel – had the final say.

What a game! Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby win it at the death with a pressure penalty conversion from Kriel!

That’s @leinsterrugby‘s FIRST loss this season @Vodacom#URC | #BULvLEIpic.twitter.com/Y3qMWHH3Tw

— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) March 22, 2025

The Bulls made 11 changes (including positional) to their starting XV for this match, while Leinster were without their 16 Ireland internationals.

Bulls flyhalf Keagan Johannes, making just his second start of the season, slotted an early penalty, but Leinster responded with a try to All Blacks centre Jordie Barrett which came after Stravino Jacobs had allowed Tommy O'Brien's kick to bounce.

Jordie Barret strolls throught to put @leinsterrugby ahead at Loftus @Vodacom#URC | #BULvLEIpic.twitter.com/VDUFRRkB9e

— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) March 22, 2025

Bulls loosehead Alulutho Tshakweni then received a harsh yellow card for supposedly not wrapping his arms in the tackle, and Byrne added three points to the visitors' tally while he was off.

Leinster had a try in the corner chalked off after the TMO spotted Bok lock RG Snyman holding a defender in the ruck, much to the relief of the Bulls, who narrowed the deficit to four points on the stroke of half time with a Johannes penalty.

Leinster came out firing after the break, with Osborne dotting down in the corner for a converted try that made it 17-6.

Then came the Bulls’ fightback.

Having won three consecutive scrum penalties, the hosts’ lineout maul earned them a penalty try, with Leinster replacement prop Thomas Clarkson sent to the sin bin. And while the Bulls couldn’t capitalise on their one-man advantage, another lineout maul, with 10 minutes to go, resulted in a try to Grobbelaar.

The Bulls went on to snatch a victory that keeps them third on the log, ahead of the Sharks. They will host Zebre next weekend, before embarking on a two-match tour.

Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images

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