In a rematch of last year’s URC Grand Final, Leinster and the Bulls again collide at Croke Park on Friday with the 2025/26 title on the line.
Friday 19 June
Leinster | Draw | Bulls
Handicap
Leinster | Bulls
Match Context
After another highly entertaining season of URC action, Leinster and the Bulls are again the last two teams standing. Leo Cullen’s men saw off a Sacha Feinberg Mngomezulu-less Stormers outfit 20-11 in their semi-final clash in Dublin two weeks back, while the Bulls were able to come away from the Scotstoun with a 22-21 victory over Glasgow Warriors to book their spot in this Grand Final.
The three-time runners-up had fallen to the Glaswegians in the 2024 season finale in Pretoria, and while they may have managed to claim some measure of revenge with that result, they will be aiming for even more this week. The scars of their 32-7 loss to the Irish outfit last year are still fresh, along with those from their other aforementioned final disappointments. But will it be a case of fourth time’s the charm for the Bulls on Friday?
With 17 Springboks in their travelling squad, they’re definitely not short on ammo. Coach Johan Ackermann has at his disposal a seriously formidable assortment of talent, and it’s no wonder that this group of players have managed to secure themselves another shot at the title.
Not that it has been all plain sailing. After some early growing pains under Ackermann, the Bulls have shown tremendous resilience to put themselves in this position. Spearheaded by arguably the best scrum in the competition, and with the best attacking stats to boot, there is plenty of reason for optimism amongst Bulls fans that this may finally be their year.
For Leinster, they have the chance to back up their title of a year ago and become the first club to win the tournament twice. On paper, they are still the best team and if they can get ascendency at the gainline as they did in last year’s final, their lethal offensive plays will be difficult for the visitors to stop.
Players to watch
James Lowe (Leinster)
Leinster’s new all-time top try-scorer plays his final match for his adopted side this weekend, and knowing just how much a player like him is fuelled by emotion, it would be no surprise to see the 33-year-old front and centre at Croke Park. Lowe has made it clear he would rather remain in Dublin than leave, but the circumstances surrounding the central contracting system in Ireland has meant his Leinster and international career has been unexpectedly cut short.
To be fair to Leinster and their decision to let him go, the winger has been somewhat off the boil over the past year, with injuries not helping his cause. But in spite of the mini sideshow surrounding his departure, Lowe will be locked in and focused on giving his fans a fitting farewell.
Handre Pollard (Bulls)
Pollard is built for games like this and he may yet prove to be the missing ingredient the Bulls need to finally get over the line in a URC final. The double World Cup winner has been as consistent as ever on his return to Loftus Versfeld, and while he was guilty of leaving some points out there in the semi-final, there is every reason to believe he will be back to his best with silverware in view.
For all he has given to the franchise that first scouted him as a schoolboy, Pollard is yet to claim any winner’s medals in the famous blue jersey. That fact may serve as added inspiration here, and the Bulls will be right in it if he’s consistent in converting off the tee and during open play.
Tactical Overview
As Willie Le Roux mentioned in the media this week, it will be critical for the Bulls to prevent Leinster from scoring early. The Irish club have made a habit of shooting out into big leads over the course of the last few seasons, coming back from which is exceptionally difficult (unless you’re prime La Rochelle).
They did it against the Pretoria franchise in last year’s final, a game in which they led 19-0 at halftime, and the Bulls will be dead and buried again if they let history repeat itself here.
Victor Matfield has billed this final as a clash between the Bulls’ scrum and the Leinster attack, pointing to the fact that the former’s front row is the same one that dismantled Ireland last November wearing green and gold. Indeed, with so many of the same players featuring this weekend, most South African rugby fans will be hoping for a similar outcome too.
Prediction
The Bulls to end their URC trophy drought by upsetting Leinster on the board this weekend, with Pollard to play a starring role.
