Bulls, who will compete in the Heineken Champions Cup next season along with three other South African sides, claimed a maiden win on Irish soil at the RDS Arena to advance to the URC’s showpiece game.

After seeing a fifth European crown slip through their fingers in the final play of the game in Marseille last month when they lost 24-21 to Stade Rochelais, Leinster started with a point to prove, crossing through Dan Sheehan on nine minutes.

Johan Grobbelaar and Marcell Coetzee hit back with efforts for Bulls, before Robbie Henshaw got over for Leinster’s second. However, Chris Smith’s 14th minute penalty was the difference at the break as the visitors went in 17-14 up.

Leinster then conceded a penalty try on 52 minutes and saw James Ryan sent to the sin bin as the gap widened to 10 points.

Rory O'Loughlin’s try on 70 minutes reduced that margin, but a Morné Steyn three-pointer nudged Bulls out of range and they ultimately held on for victory as Cian Healy’s converted score for Leinster saw them fall agonisingly short once again.

Just under a fortnight after their narrow Heineken Champions Cup final defeat, Leinster Rugby suffered another gut-wrenching loss as they went down 27-26 to Bulls in the United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-finals on Friday.