Leinster and the Bulls will contest the United Rugby Championship Grand Final at Croke Park, Dublin on Saturday and the Irish side start as the bookmakers favourites
Leinster v Bulls, Saturday 14th June, Dublin, KO 18:00 (South African time)
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Mike Adamson (Scotland), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Weather Forecast – Dublin
Leinster:
Leinster sealed their place in the final with a more than comfortable 37-19 home victory over Glasgow Warriors last week. The bookmakers pre match handicap saw Leinster start at around -13.5 points and they were 25-5 to the good by the half time break. That lead subsequently stretched to 37-5 and Leinster ran in 6 tries in total including 2 for Sheehan and 2 for Osborne before a couple of late consolations for the Warriors.
Leinster started their home quarter final against the Scarlets as 23.5 point favourites on the bookmakers main handicap line. They came out on top 33-21, scoring 4 tries to 3 but they were some way below their best form.
Leinster topped the URC log at the end of the regular season with a record of 16 wins and 2 defeats and their tally of 76 log points was 8 more than the second placed Bulls. They won their first 12 matches to pretty much have top spot sewn up before a defeat away to the Bulls (20-21) and they also lost away to the Scarlets.
This will be the first URC final for Leinster. Last season they fell at the semi final stage of the URC, losing away to the Bulls, in 2022/23 they also lost in the semi's
to Munster and in 2021/22 they lost another semi final at home to the Bulls.
Bulls:
The Bulls came through their semi final derby clash with the Sharks with a 25-13 victory at Loftus. They were -7.5 points on the bookmakers main handicap line and despite picking up 3 yellow cards tries from de Klerk, Moodie and Kriel saw them through with Goosen adding 2 conversions and 2 penalties.
In the quarter finals the Bulls saw off Edinburgh a 42-33 at Loftus . The handicap line saw them start as 17.5 point favourites and after trailing 14-3 early doors they worked their way back into the match and pulled away in the second half, eventually scoring 6 tries to Edinburgh's 5.
In the regular season the Bulls finished second on the log with an overall record of 14 wins and 4 defeats, 8 points behind Leinster and 6 points better off than the third place Sharks. After wins in each of the last 6 rounds plus the 2 play offs they are on an 8 match URC winning streak, a run that started with that 21-20 home win over Leinster in Round 13.
The Bulls now bid to go one better than last season when they lost a home final 21-16 to Glasgow Warriors. In 2021 they were also runners up after being edged out 18-13 by the Stormers in Cape Town.
Team News
Leinster: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan (captain), 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Jamie Osborne
Bulls: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 David Kriel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sebastian de Klerk, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Marcell Coetzee, 7 Ruan Nortje (captain), 6 Marco van Staden, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Jan-hendrik Wessels.
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Keagan Johannes, 23 Devon Williams
The Betting,
Posted 11 June 07h29
Leinster -10.5 points at 9/10
Bulls +10.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 11 June 07h32
There has been no movement from the opening call of Leinster -10.5.
Weather wise there is chances of rain throughout the day and we are looking at a temperature of around 17 degrees and humidity in the late 70's to early 80's
Posted 14 June 10h16
The market has moved slightly with Leinster now generally -12.5.
The points line is 46.5 and with rain expected I don't expect much movement.
What struck me last week against the Warriors is that the Leinster defence appears to be back and while leaning to them on the minus I am going to take Bulls u16.5 points.
Will shop around for a price and bet will be posted after the hiefs v Brumbies game
Posted 14 June 11h17
The unders line is oming in so weather will likely be a big factor.
The best I an find now is Bulls u16.5 at 10/11
BET: 4 units Bulls under 16.5 at 10/11 at Sportingbet
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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