Leinster came from behind to deny the Lions victory and continue their unbeaten season, claiming a 39-36 win at Ellis Park in the United Rugby Championship (URC) on Saturday.

Sam Prendergast kicked 14 points in the triumph, including a last-minute match-winner. Vakh Abdaladze, Liam Turner, Michael Milne and Rob Russell scored for Leinster, with Prendergast converting four of the tries and assisting two.

Tries from Edwill van der Merwe, Gianni Lombard, Marius Louw, Francke Horn and a penalty try put the Johannesburg outfit into a position to win the game.

But Leinster prevailed and have now not lost in 17 URC and five Champions Cup matches this season – 21 wins and one draw.

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It took Leinster just two minutes to open the scoring. Abdaladze celebrated his first start for Leinster as he burst clear and had a 30-metre run to the line to touch down under the posts, and Prendergast added the straightforward conversion.

But the Lions hit back after 13 minutes when Sanele Nohamba’s pass after a lineout-out win set wing Van der Merwe away, and he broke through a series of weak Leinster tackles to score, and Nohamba sent his conversion attempt off the post.

The home side defended resolutely, and after soaking up Leinster’s pressure, Lombard scored his first URC try to give the Lions the lead.

The fly-half kicked a loose ball forward and chased it down himself to touch down, with Nohamba’s conversion putting the Lions 12-7 ahead.

Back came Leinster, and the ball was played along the backs to outside centre Turner, who spotted a gap in the Lions’ backline to burst clear and touch down in the corner with Prendergast restoring Leinster’s lead.

But a minute later, the Lions responded with a superb try. Lombard burst clear and offloaded to Van der Merwe, who sold a dummy to break clear and play a short pass to Nohamba, and his behind-the-back pass found Louw to run in unopposed.

They extended their advantage when number eight Horn burst through four tackles to score in the corner and secure the bonus point.

Leinster cut the gap six minutes after the break as they took advantage of pressure deep in the Lions’ half when Milne carried the ball from the back of a ruck to dive over.

The Lions were then awarded a penalty try after Cosgrave was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on to extend their lead to 15 points.

Prendergast booted a penalty before his delightful chip-enabled Russell to gather and score in the right corner as Leinster rallied before Cosgrave weaved his way through, and Prendergast’s kick levelled the scores.

Prendergast then sent over a penalty with the last kick of the game to win it.

It was a cruel ending for the Lions, who now cannot make the URC play-offs.

🦁🔷 Leinster strike late to continue their unbeaten season! #URC #LIOvLEI pic.twitter.com/VOWyB6jD2A

— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) April 15, 2023

Bulls put Zebre to the sword in record win

The Bulls closed in on the United Rugby Championship play-offs with a 78-12 thrashing of Zebre Parma in Johannesburg.

Wing Canan Moodie claimed a hat-trick as the Bulls scored 11 tries, and fly-half Johan Goosen kicked 23 points.

Scrum-half Embrose Papier and lock forward Ruan Vermaak both crossed twice as Zebre wilted at altitude.

Gerhard Steenekamp, Marco van Staden, Bismarck du Plessis and Chris Smith completed the Bulls’ try rampage.

Zebre, who remain without a win for almost 12 months, claimed consolation scores through Richard Kriel and Chris Cook.

Smith’s try in the final moments saw the Bulls register the most points in a URC fixture, eclipsing the 75 that the Ospreys managed against Benetton in February 2014.

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