The three early tries earned the record ninth title when Ireland Side Rainster comprehensively won the South African Bulls 32-7 in the United Rugby Championship (URC) Finals in Dublin on Saturday.
The hosts were clinical with early bursts as the rain fell, with No. 8 Jack Conan, Centre Geordy Barrett and Flanker Josh Van der Freyer crossing the line and Fintanganne’s late try finishing the outstanding display.
The Pretoria-based bull lost three of the last four URC finals this month, in another major disappointment, even if they were underdogs against the teams they lost against, against a team full of British and Ireland’s Lions squad travelling to Australia.
Hooker Acker van der Melwe won the only attempt by the visitors as Rainster made up for some due to his recent shock home semi-final loss by the Northampton Saints at the European Champions Cup.
The winning margin was the biggest final in the history of the sport.
“It’s a bit of a relief. It took a long time to actually win something. I have credit for everyone who’s been in the work over the last few years,” Leinster Captain Conan said.
“I’m glad we showed up and played and silenced a few critics.”
Having scored a try in the 2018 and 2021 finals, Conan paved the way from close range to make his side a perfect start.
Scrum-half Luke McGrath, a later alternative to Jamison Gibson Park, scored by tipping and barrett in his final appearance before returning to New Zealand.
The Bulls looked like shells, but it got worse for them as van der Frier drove Rainster to drive the mall and fell to the Triline to bag his third try on the side.
Visitors spent most of the next 15 minutes at Rainster 22, but the excellent defensive wall at home side meant that there was nothing to show it at halftime with a score of 19-0.
Fly-half Sam Prendagast expanded the benefits of Rainster by adding a penalty early in the second term, but the Bulls finally reached the scoreboard 50 minutes later when van der Melwe surrounded the triline.
However, Rainster regained his ownership and territory in the next phase, and Prendagast extended his lead with a penalty before being dotted with replacement Ganne.
“Praise them, to be fair that they were under the pump for the first 40 minutes,” Bulls coach Jake White said. “One of the things that Leinster does well is not letting them chase the game.
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