Leinster player ratings vs Bulls as the Irish giants powered their way to victory in the URC Final at Croke Park.
Save us to your Google Favourites for nonstop RUCK content!
Leinster retained their United Rugby Championship title with a dominant 36-7 victory over the Bulls at Croke Park. Tries from Tommy O’Brien, Reiko Ioane, Sam Prendergast, Jack Conan and Harry Byrne sealed the win, with Prendergast producing a standout display.
The Bulls were reduced to 14 men after just a minute when Canan Moodie was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on. Leinster quickly took advantage, with O’Brien pouncing on a loose pass and racing clear to score after five minutes.
Leo Cullen’s side continued to dominate and doubled their lead after 15 minutes. A quick line-out from Jamison Gibson-Park sparked a brilliant counter-attack, with Hugo Keenan breaking through before sending Ioane over for a superb try. The Bulls’ discipline issues continued as Willie le Roux was also shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.
Scroll down for Leinster player ratings vs Bulls:.
Join RUCK’s Instagram broadcast channel and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.
Leinster 36
- Tries: O’Brien 7′, Lowe?* Ioane 16′, Conan 27′, S Prendergast (47′), Byrne (76′)
- Cons: S Prendergast 8′, 28′, 47′, Byrne (76′)
- Pens: S Prendergast 32′
Bulls 7
- Tries: Moodie (62′)
- Cons:
- Pens:
Leinster Player ratings vs Bulls:
HUGO KEENAN – 7.5
Calm and comfortable in the air from the get-go, and exploded into the backfield before playing the 15th-minute assist to Reiko Ioane. Delivered an outstanding kick chase to claim a 24th-minute ball and pin the Bulls back on their try-line.
TOMMY O’BRIEN (OFF 40′) – 7.5
The quickest reactions on the pitch, as Tommy O’Brien pounced on a wayward pass intended for Handré Pollard and raced away from halfway to bag the opening try after just six minutes. Also impressed with some aggressive defence, as the wing flew off his line to make his tackles.
REIKO IOANE – 7
Asking questions of the Bulls defence from the word go, with the All Blacks man making his mark on the gain-line. Ioane was on hand to finish Leinster’s second try, with a stunning finish after Hugo Keenan split the defence.
Jamison Gibson-Park to Hugo Keenan who delivers a great pass to Rieko Ioane who gets the try for Leinster.#LEIvBUL #URC #BKTURC #NeverLessThanEverything #SinBinRugby pic.twitter.com/lgpHlBG14k
— Sin Bin Rugby. (@sin_bin_rugby) June 19, 2026
JAMIE OSBORNE – 6.5
Arguably the season’s most in-form centre, wasted no time getting into the mix, with some rapid-fire carries locking onto the Bulls gain-line. Osborne was the glue of the Leinster backline, with quick hands bringing in the flying outside backs when not going alone. Osborne delivered some stunning tackles, with a 37th-minute hit forcing a knock-on from a Bulls player.
JAMES LOWE – 7
Immediately into the match with a break in the first minute, with the Leinster fans savouring every second of their departing wing. Got a nice ovation after nailing a thumping kick to touch – Leinster will miss his revered left boot. Lowe was just denied a farewell try in the 18th minute, as he was muscled into touch by the Bulls defenders. Was a fingertip away from an intercept try in the 58th minute, yet the wing fumbled the ball forward and was adjudged to have deliberately knocked it on. Lowe took a trip to the bin on his final Leinster outing, as the referee became the most unpopular man in Croke Park.
SAM PRENDERGAST – 9 (OFF 68′) MAN OF THE MATCH
Had the quick thinking to call for the quick lineout and then find Hugo Keenan on the inside line in the lead-up to Reiko Ioane’s try. Delivered a phenomenal piece of try-saving defence in the first half, putting his body on the line beneath the fly-hacking boots of Stravino Jacobs. Delivered some inch-perfect kicking from hand, including some awesome spiral bombs, with the fly-half brimming with confidence. Added a try of his own early in the second half to complete a brilliant performance.
https://twitter.com/URCOfficial/status/2068066753360298116JAMISON GIBSON-PARK – 7
At the heart of an exhilarating half-back battle against the in-form Embrose Papier, and delivered an eye-catching pass from the touchline in the build-up to Reiko Ioane’s try. Whilst his half-back partner Prendergast took the headlines, Gibson-Park’s quick ball distribution was paramount to Leinster’s attacking success. Led Leinster downfield with some neat grubber kicks to establish field position in the latter stages.
JERRY CAHIR – 7 (OFF 48′)
Plenty of pressure upon the young prop’s shoulders, with Andrew Porter out of the final through injury. Starting only his seventh Leinster match, the opening scrums were reset in favour of the Bulls. The tide turned at the scrum at the half-hour mark, as Leinster rallied their forward pack strength. A great effort to hold his own against the favoured Springbok forwards.
RONAN KELLEHER – 6.5 (OFF 47′)
The set-piece started sharply for Ronan Kelleher, with the hooker delivering marksman-like throws. However, the front row was turned over upon an early drive to the Bulls try-line. Received some medical attention after a heavy coming together midway through the first half and was held up over the line upon a first-half pick-and-go.
TADHG FURLONG – 6 (OFF 47′)
The veteran of the Leinster propping pillars, Furlong had to both wrestle with Springboks star Gerard Steenekamp and bring Cahir through the ranks on the big stage. The early scrums were controlled by the Bulls. Got the upper hand for a 30th-minute scrum penalty, as the Bulls back-pedalled.
JOE McCARTHY – 7 (OFF 69′)
Muscled his way to the gain-line against the bulky Bulls defenders, McCarthy made his presence felt with some thunderous carries. Thought he’d crossed the whitewash in the 23rd minute, with the pyrotechnics set off despite no try being awarded. Eager to disrupt the Bulls set-piece, with second-half line-outs halted by the Ireland lock.
JAMES RYAN – 6.5
Always looking to be the man on the supporting line, as the veteran Ireland lock dug in for the hard yards to gain Leinster that extra bit of go-forward. Ryan ran a tight ship at the lineout, as Leinster brimmed with confidence with a steady 22-0 lead established.
