Leinster's winning run came to a dramatic halt against the Bulls in South Africa as they lost out to a penalty with the last kick of the game.
Leo Cullen's men, missing a number of their Ireland Six Nations players, had maintained a perfect record of 16 wins from as many matches across all competitions until Saturday's last-gasp United Rugby Championship defeat.
Result: Bulls 21-20 Leinster
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 22, 2025
A dramatic end in Pretoria as the Bulls win a scrum penalty and snatch victory with a David Kriel kick #rterugby pic.twitter.com/xpq8HFtYi6
Keagan Johannes got the hosts out to an early lead through a penalty before the visitors scored their first try via inside centre Jordie Barrett. Ross Byrne converted, as he later did for Andrew Osborne's second-half try.
The hosts led 18-17 after a penalty try and one from replacement Johann Grobbelaar but had Sebastian De Kerk sent off in the 74th minute, and Leinster leapt into a 77th-minute lead through Byrne's second penalty.
TRY LEINSTER - After a lengthy TMO consultation, Andrew Osborne's score stands. Ideal start to the second half for Leinster as they now lead 17-6
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) March 22, 2025
📺 Watch Bulls v Leinster live on @rte2 and @RTEplayer #rterugby pic.twitter.com/YuvYCXLhvB
But Bulls wrapped up the victory in dramatic style when David Kriel slotted the winning penalty with the last kick of the contest, four minutes beyond the regulation 80.
Bulls: Willie le Roux; Sebastian de Klerk, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs; Keagan Johannes, Embrose Papier; Alulutho Tshakweni, Akker van der Merwe, Wilco Louw; Ruan Vermaak, JF van Heerden; Marcell Coetzee (capt), Jannes Kirsten, Cameron Hanekom.
Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Mornay Smith, Reinhardt Ludwig, Marco van Staden, Nizaam Carr, Zak Burger, Devon Williams.
Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Hugh Cooney, Jordie Barrett, Andrew Osborne; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath (capt); Jack Boyle, John McKee, Rabah Slimani; Diarmuid Mangan, RG Snyman; Max Deegan, Will Connors, James Culhane.
Replacements: Stephen Smyth, Ivan Soroka, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, Alex Soroka, Scott Penny, Fintan Gunne, Ciarán Frawley.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
