The semi-finals went to form, and the top two teams on the log won to set a Grand Final date in Dublin for the URC title. Leinster battered Glasgow, while the Bulls fought off a spirited Sharks side, with the best two teams in the comp meeting at Croke Park on Saturday to fight for the trophy.
Leinster VS Bulls Venue: Croke Park. Dublin
Leinster VS Bulls Date: Saturday, June 14
BetXchange India VS South Africa Odds:
History
This has been a unique finals series. It is the first time since the URC was established that the highest-seeded team has ridden home-field advantage to the final. Every one of the six finals games was won by the higher seed, so that it will be one vs. two on Saturday.
Leinster and Bulls have met six times since the formation of the URC in 2021. The South African side holds the advantage, winning four matches to Leinster’s two.
Perhaps more tellingly, Bulls have also won both playoff matches between the two sides. Both matches were in the semi-finals, with Bulls knocking off top-seeded Leinster at the RDS Stadium 27-26 in 2022 and turning them over 25-20 at Loftus last year.
This will be the second meeting of the two sides this season. Bulls beat Leinster as part of their excellent run at the back end of the season, taking them down 21-20 at Loftus in a nail-biting clash. Bulls have won all three matches between the two sides, which were decided by less than a try, which could be important on Saturday.
Leinster
Can Leinster finally get this done?
Their last title was at the end of the 2020-21 season, the final year of the PRO14 competition. They then won the regular season for the first two years of the URC, but fell agonizingly in the playoffs both years.
Last year, they were the No. 3 seed. Munster won the regular season and collapsed in the playoffs, but couldn’t find enough form to bring the title back to the east of the Emerald Isle.
Leinster has a couple of big players back on the side. Center Carry Ringrose and openside Josh van der Flier both return for this massive match-up.
Bulls
Losing URC Next-Gen-Player of the season Camerson Hanekom is a big blow for Bulls. He has been exceptional throughout the season and deserves the award he was given. The injury sees Marco van Staden returning to the team at flanker, with Marcell Coetzee showing his back row versatility by moving to No. 8.
Bulls have been dominant in the scrum and must use that on Saturday. They have won the most scrum penalties on their own feed and against the head, while their gainline carry success is the best in the comp. They must grind from the start to defeat a team loaded with British and Irish Lions.
Best Bets
Croke Park is an interesting venue. It holds over 30,000 more fans than the Aviva Stadium, which has a capacity of just over 82,000 people. Leinster hopes Croke is full, with the atmosphere at the ground massively in their favor.
They are also undefeated at Croke, having won all four matches they have taken to the home of Gaelic sports over the years. This will be the first time a South African team has played there, giving the hosts a massive advantage.
I like Leinster to end their trophy drought finally, but to do it in a close one. Ten points seems right, so I give the Bulls the nod if you are betting the handicap.
