History favours the Vodacom Bulls’ bid for a maiden URC title, as Jake White’s charges line up against Leinster for the seventh time in the Grand Final on Saturday.

The Bulls’ third appearance in the showpiece in four attempts is set to play out at Croke Park in what marks Leinster’s first URC final since the 2020-21 season.

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Leinster finally shook off their playoff hoodoo to beat defending champions Glasgow 37-19 at the Aviva Stadium last week, outscoring last season’s champions by six tries to three.

The Bulls, meanwhile, showed nerves of steel in a nail-biting SA derby against the Sharks for a 25-13 victory at Loftus Versfeld, despite receiving three yellow cards in the first half.

The two top-ranked teams in the league stage this season, White’s Bulls lead Leinster 4-2 in URC clashes, including a historic Dublin semi-final win and back-to-back Loftus victories ahead of this week’s decider.

25 SEPTEMBER 2021: LEINSTER 31-3 BULLS
Leinster handed the Bulls a harsh URC debut lesson with a commanding victory in Dublin. A blistering opening 14 minutes saw the hosts race to a 17-0 lead through tries from Josh van der Flier and Andrew Porter, with Jonathan Sexton dictating play.

Johan Goosen slotted the Bulls’ first URC points, but handling errors and Leinster’s physical dominance stifled any comeback. Second-half scores from James Tracy and Ross Byrne sealed it.

10 JUNE 2022: LEINSTER 26-27 BULLS
The Bulls stunned Leinster at the RDS Arena to book a maiden URC final appearance. Dominant up front and composed under pressure, the Herd became the first South African team to win in Ireland.

Tries from Johan Grobbelaar and Marcell Coetzee, plus a penalty try, rewarded their forward dominance. Morne Steyn’s late penalty proved decisive after Leinster’s final surge fell short. Elrigh Louw led a ferocious pack effort, with Bismarck du Plessis sealing the result with a crucial turnover.

22 APRIL 2023: BULLS 62-7 LEINSTER
The Bulls dismantled Leinster at Loftus in round 18 to end the Irish side’s unbeaten 2022-23 URC run in emphatic fashion. Leading 31-0 at half time, White’s troops overwhelmed the visitors physically and tactically.

Goosen racked up 17 points, while Springbok wings Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie scored two tries each in a nine-try rout. Grobbelaar also bagged a brace, with further scores from Stedman Gans and Harold Vorster.

Leinster’s only response came via Michael Milne as the Bulls closed the league campaign in ruthless style.

29 MARCH 2024: LEINSTER 47-14 BULLS
The Bulls crumbled after a promising start as Leinster stormed to a bonus-point win in the Irish capital. Leading 14-12 at the break through Goosen’s boot and an Arendse try, the visitors were blown away in the second half.

Leinster ran in five unanswered tries, with Milne and James Lowe sparking the surge before Dan Sheehan, Jack Conan and Liam Turner sealed it. Arendse was denied a second score for foul play, and the result widened the gap between top-placed Leinster and the second-placed Bulls heading into the playoff run-in.

15 JUNE 2024: BULLS 25-20 LEINSTER
Sergeal Petersen’s second-half brace powered the Bulls to glory at Loftus and into the 2023-24 URC final. In for the injured Arendse and Moodie, Petersen delivered the winner in the 67th minute. Goosen also scored a try and set up another, while Cameron Hanekom starred in a Man-of-the-Match showing.

A star-studded Leinster lineup struck through Lowe and Ryan Baird, but the home side defended heroically to secure a home decider on the Highveld, only to fall short against Glasgow.

22 MARCH 2025: BULLS 21-20 LEINSTER
Bulls centre David Kriel slotted an 84th-minute penalty to snatch victory in a gripping URC clash at Loftus. The match-winner came from a dominant scrum after a red card to Sebastian de Klerk had handed Leinster the lead.

The Bulls had fought back from 17-6 down through a penalty try and Grobbelaar’s maul finish. Byrne and Keagan Johannes traded early points, while Jordie Barrett and Andrew Osborne crossed for the visitors, but it was the Bulls replacements and set piece that ultimately swung it at the death.

Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images