Bulls highlight discipline, defence in bid to halt Leinster’s quick start

Leinster captain Jack Conan scores his team’s first try during the 2025 URC final against the Bulls. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images The Bulls say their defence will have to be better than it’s been all season, and they cannot afford to incur the wrath of the referee, come their URC final against Leinster. The Pretoria side will play in their fourth United Rugby Championship final in five years, at Croke Park next Friday, after two yellow cards almost cost them theirsemifinal against Glasgow Warriors, while three cards in the second half effectively ended all hope for the Stormers in theirsemifinal defeatto Leinster.

Glasgow scored two tries against the Bulls while Handré Pollard was in the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on, while referee Andrew Brace awarded a penalty try to the hosts when Ruan Nortjé collapsed a maul illegally. The Stormers fought from 13-0 down, but yellow cards to Leolin Zas (deliberate knock-on) and Salmaan Moerat (kicking the ball out of Jamison Gibson-Park’s hands), and a 20-minute red card to Ruan Ackermann (dangerous cleanout) arrested their momentum against Leinster. Though the Bulls wereable to fight backfrom 21-3 down, the Stormers fell 20-11.

Bulls coachJohan Ackermannsaid Thursday they had “failed that test” in discipline against Glasgow. “If you analyse Leinster, they probably win every game that they start fast and get a good lead. So we can’t afford that ill-discipline, either at the start of the game or at the back-end,” he said.

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“It’s unnecessary to put yourselves under that (pressure) because we all know what the laws say regarding tackles, so let’s try stay in that law. “And then most of the time, if you go for the intercept and you don’t get it, they will pin you for a slap down. With so much at stake and the high pressure and emotion involved, we must keep calm and have good discipline.” Ackermann reflected on Leinster’s converted try and penalty in the first quarter against the Stormers, as well as their two early tries against the Bulls in last year’s final, which theyeasily won 32-7. “We need to deal with it better than we did against Glasgow because we also knew Glasgow always start well,” the Bulls coach said.

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