The Bulls are in Croke Park for a second successive URC final against Leinster and the South African franchise are well equipped for battle this time.
The Bulls' quest for glory in the URC remains unsatisfied and that hunger for victory should be a major driving force for them in Dublin.
With a side stacked full of Springboks, they seem sure to give Leinster major headaches as the hosts bid to avoid losing a second final of the season.
Leinster v Bulls Tips Summary
Best Bet - Bulls to win @ 6/4
Alternative Bet - Total points 2-way over 44.5 @ 8/13
Bet Builder - Rieko Ioane to score a try & Johan Grobbelaar to score a try @ 7/1
Leinster v Bulls Prediction
Best Bet: Bulls to win @ 6/4
Leinster have had mixed news on the injury front as they attempt to sign off their season on a high in Dublin.
Tadhg Furlong is making a welcome return to action after missing the quarter-final and semi-final wins, but loosehead prop Andrew Porter is ruled out due to a calf injury.
Tommy O'Brien, recently sidelined with a back complaint, is named in the starting XV, but influential hooker Dan Sheehan is only named in the replacements following recent shoulder issues.
James Lowe starts in his final outing for Leinster.
The Bulls' quest to finally land this trophy will see a starting XV that contains 11 Springboks.
Kurt-Lee Arendse, Gerhard Steenekamp and Handre Pollard all missed last year's 32-7 defeat to Leinster at Croke Park but are named in a strong side by coach Johan Ackermann.
Leinster are favourites and dismissed the Bulls a year ago with aplomb at the Jones' Road venue, but this is a much stronger Bulls team.
Leo Cullen has come under pressure of late following a fifth European final defeat for the Irish province.
Leinster are judged by high standards and perhaps at times they aren't scaling those pinnacles when the spotlight is at its most intense.
The Bulls, too, have suffered disappointment at the final hurdle. Having Pollard, Steenekamp and Arendse in their starting side, as well as Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom, is a major boost.
The Bulls' failure to win the URC is used as a stick to punish them with at home and for this crop of players, they need to grasp the chance now.
They have all their star players fit and available and they know how to take down Leinster having won three of the last four meetings – now they just have to do it in Dublin for the first time since their 2022 semi-final win at the RDS.
Alternative Bet: Total points 2-way over 44.5 @ 8/13
An exciting URC final is in prospect and the scoreboard should reflect that.
This is the ninth meeting of these sides since 2021. Leinster were 31-3 winners in that maiden URC meeting and the Dubliners of course won last year's final 32-7.
Every other meeting has exceeded the 40-point marker, with points totals of 70, 41, 45, 61, 69 and 53 recorded.
Leinster put 59 on the Lions in their quarter-final win, with three of their last four games going over 45 points.
The Bulls hit 45 of their own in seeing off Munster in the quarters, before the 22-21 win over Glasgow in the semis, with 10 of their previous 12 games going over 44.5 points.
Leinster v Bulls Bet Builder Tip
- Rieko Ioane to score a try
- Johan Grobbelaar to score a try
Pays 7/1
Kiwi-born Lowe will say his Leinster farewells after this but it's All Black Rieko Ioane who could make a major difference on the scoreboard.
The centre was a try-scorer against the Stormers in the last four after a quick show-and-go saw him skip inside and dive for the opening try. He's got lots of big-game experience and has the class to make an impact.
While Sheehan's absence for Leinster is a loss, the Bulls have no such worries as their powerful hooker Johan Grobbelaar is set for a pivotal role.
Pushing for the line off set-pieces could be fruitful and the 28-year-old will be in the thick of that action.
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Key Match Stats
- Leinster were 32-7 winners in the URC final between these sides at Croke Park 12 months ago
- The Bulls are in their fourth final in five seasons but they have yet to lift the trophy
- Leinster finished second in the regular season table with 63 points, while the Bulls finished in fourth on 59 points
- Leo Cullen's Leinster have won five of their last six games, their only defeat coming against Bordeaux Begles in the Champions Cup final
- The Bulls have won their last eight URC games in a row
- The South African side have won three of the last four meetings with Leinster in the URC, only losing last year's final
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
