Bulls taught a lesson by assertive, quick Leinster

The Bulls were always in for a baptism of fire on their United Rugby Championship (URC) debut away to Leinster in Dublin.

The SA blue bloods met more than their match in their Irish peers and fell 31-3.

Leinster, more assertive and quicker on the draw, held a 17-3 lead at the break.

The venerated hosts stole the march on the Bulls and looked a force as they frenziedly surged forward in numbers in the opening stages. They were particularly proficient at the ruck and with the surfeit go-forward ball they had the Bulls’ defence stretched.

Gary Ringrose was incisive in his midfield thrusts, while flankers Josh van der Flier and Rhys Ruddock displayed a wide influence.

The hosts proved equally adept without the ball as they repelled all the Bulls advances in the second quarter of the match.

The Bulls, initially passive, made uncharacteristic unforced errors no more evident than a botched kick-off that travelled straight into touch.

Apart from revisionary work on their set pieces that were put to the blowtorch, the Bulls will also need to develop their attack. Leinster made four times the number of metres the visitors did.

The Bulls defence was found wanting in Van der Flier’s try and not long after they came up short under the high ball that led to a try for loosehead prop Andrew Porter.

That helped shoot the home team into a 17-0 lead after 14 minutes and the Bulls will ruefully reflect on the first quarter.

Despite the toil of Marcell Coetzee, Ruhan Nortje as well as the occasionally sprightly incursions of Madosh Tambwe and Kriel, the Bulls had little to crow about.

Leinster displayed all the bloody minded qualities that helped propel them to four European Champions Cup titles. They revel in the trenches and while the Bulls threw everything at them for close quarters the Leinster defensive line held firm.

The Bulls did the same after the break as they grimly tried to hold on but they ran out of belligerence.

Like the travelling Lions and the Stormers earlier in round one, the Bulls too faded in the second half.

The Bulls came, saw and though they didn’t conquer they will be richer for the experience.

Earlier in the day the Stormers relinquished their mid-game advantage before losing 22-18 to Benetton in Treviso.

Scorers

Leinster - Tries: Josh van der Flier, Andrew Porter, James Tracy, Ross Byrne. Conversions: Jonny Sexton (3), Byrne. Penalty: Sexton.

Bulls – Penalty: Johan Goosen.