Leinster, who are bidding for a fourth Heineken Champions title this season, suffered their first defeat in 24 matches this campaign in the BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) encounter in Pretoria.

Prop Michael Milne notched the leaders’ only try of the contest in the second half, with Vodacom Bulls, who reached the Round of 16 in their debut season in EPCR’s premier competition, rattling up nine in response.

In the Gallagher Premiership, Exeter Chiefs, who have a semi-final date with Stade Rochelais next Sunday in Bordeaux, warmed up with a dramatic 22-21 home win against Bristol Bears thanks to a late penalty from fly-half Joe Simmonds.

Tries from centre Ian Whitten and flanker Dave Ewers earned the Chiefs, reduced to 14 men by lock Dafydd Jenkins’ 17th-minute red card, a 12-7 interval advantage, but Bristol responded to lead 21-12 heading into the final 10 minutes.

However, a lineout mistake from the Bears gifted prop Josh Iosefa-Scott the Chiefs’ third try and with time running out, Simmonds dissected the uprights to lift Exeter to sixth in the Premiership table.

In the TOP 14, Stade Rochelais prepared for the semi-final with a 26-13 home victory over ASM Clermont Auvergne, Joel Antonio Sclavi, Paul Boudehent, Teddy Thomas and Dillyn Leyds dotting down for the hosts.

Meanwhile, Stade Toulousain suffered a 19-10 defeat at Stade Français Paris, where Pierre Fouyssac was the lone try-scorer for the visitors.

Heineken Champions Cup semi-finalists Leinster Rugby, resting a number of key players before next Saturday’s last-four encounter with Stade Toulousain in Dublin, saw their season’s unbeaten run come to an abrupt end with a 62-7 drubbing against Vodacom Bulls on Saturday.