Leinster pinged at the scrum and out-half Keagan Johannes punishes them with a well struck penalty from distance.

Leinster concede a penalty at the scrum just inside their own ten metre line.

Thomas Clarkson under pressure.

Bulls point to the posts.

Leinster camped on the Bulls' line.

They have advantage and the Bulls stray offside after some really solid defence.

On the five metre line.

Leinster look like they will tap and go...

Leinster having the better of the last ten minutes.

They swing the ball out to Tommy O'Brien and the work the ball back inside as they approach the five metre line...

Can they make this spell of territory count?

Better from Leinster.

Leo Cullen's side going through the phases.

The referee spots a knock-on but he brings it back for a scrum to Leinster. First knock on was from a blue hand.

Bulls attacking in Leinster's 22 but Hugh Cooney wins a penalty in defence.

Great work by the centre. Important moment.

Leinster clear and win the line out.

The ball is hoisted into the air by Luke McGrath and Bulls return with a kick deep into the visitor's half.

Will Connors is shown a yellow for contact to the head of JJ Theron.

The Bulls stray offside and Leinster opt to go for the posts.

Sam Prendergast knocks it over for his side's first points of the season.

Leinster go wide, with Jamie Osborne and Jimmy O'Brien combining well to make significant ground.

Osbourne is forced into touch and Bulls kick clear.

Leinster secure the line out and attack but Brian Deeny is pinged for clearing out beyond the ball.

The visitors lacking fluidity but there is no lack of effort.

Bulls win a penalty from a Will Connors infringement in the ruck.

They go to the corner, but the attack amounts to nothing.

Leinster clear their lines but Devon Williams runs it back with intent, causing serious issues for the visitors.

The ball goes loose and Leinster are off the hook.

Frenetic start to this game, with the Bulls chucking the ball about as they work their way into Leinster's half.

Robbie Henshaw kicks the ball out on the full.

Bulls have another chance to go through a few phases as they work their way into the visitor's 22.

Sam Prendergast kicks off.

The ball comes off a Bulls player and the visitors have the first line out of the game.

They attack with pace and purpose but Will Connors slides into touch.

Referee Adam Jones blows his whistle as we get off to a start here in Pretoria.

While the UK and Ireland brace for winter rugby and suffer the impact of Storm Amy, conditions in Pretoria are ideal: around 20C, dry and with barely a breath of wind. Perfect for running rugby as the sun sets.

The teams are finishing their warm-ups as Loftus Versfeld begins to fill up.

Not long to go now...

Leinster beat the Bulls in the URC final less than four months ago, but Pretoria has been a graveyard for them: three visits to Loftus Versfeld, three defeats, including a 62-7 loss.Since South Africa’s “big four” joined in 2021, Leinster have won just two of nine games in the country.

This early-season trip for Leo Cullen's side comes with several internationals and Lions still working their way back after the summer. Loftus brings altitude, Bulls’ physicality and travel fatigue - a tough place to try to tidy things up.

The Bulls, 53-40 winners over Ospreys at Loftus Versfeld last week, are captained this week by Marcel Coetzee, with World Cup winner Willie le Roux held in reserve on the bench.

Backs Jan Serfontein and Cheswill Jooste are both sidelined after injuries sustained against Ospreys. Flanker Cobus Wiese is also out following a head knock.

In addition, a further 13 players are currently unavailable with various issues including involvement with the Springboks.

Leo Cullen makes seven changes to his Leinster team from last week.

Jordan Larmour misses out with a foot injury after last week’s defeat to the Stormers; Andrew Osborne comes in on the wing, Tommy O’Brien stays on the opposite flank, and Jimmy O’Brien again starts at full-back.

Ciaran Frawley drops to the bench, with Hugh Cooney selected at centre alongside Robbie Henshaw. Captain Luke McGrath and Sam Prendergast remain the half-back pairing.

In the front row, British and Irish Lion Thomas Clarkson makes his first start of the season with Paddy McCarthy set for his first Leinster start, and Gus McCarthy continues at hooker.

Ryan Baird partners Brian Deeny in the second row, while the back row is reshuffled with Alex Soroka and Will Connors on the flanks and Max Deegan at number eight.