Watch: Leinster’s unbeaten season over after dramatic end in South Africa

A heartbreaking end to their game against the Bulls

A Leinster team that was far from their strongest went to the Highveld and did the jersey proud in their 21-20 loss to the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.

Youngsters such as Diarmuid Mangan, Hugh Cooney, and Andrew Osborne started among the more experienced charges of Jordie Barrett, RG Snyman, Max Deegan, Rabah Slimani, and Ross Byrne.

An early try from Barrett set the tone, and the Blues led 10-6 at half-time with Ross Byrne adding a conversion and penalty.

A try from Osborne and a fine conversion from Byrne put Leinster 17-6 up early after the break, before the Bulls fought back to lead 18-17.

Byrne's superb late penalty restored Leinster's lead, after the Bulls had been reduced to 14 men when Sebastian de Klerk was given a red card for a dangerous tackle.

But in classic South African fashion, the home side destroyed a Leinster scrum on 83 minutes, and from the resulting penalty, David Kriel stepped up to knock over a tough, game-winning penalty.

The result has shortened Leinster's lead at the top of the URC table to nine points over Glasgow, while the Bulls remain in third.