LEINSTER SECURED HOME advantage in the Champions Cup quarter-finals with a bonus-point victory over Glasgow Warriors this afternoon. Read our report from the RDS here, while below we take a look at some of the talking points from the game.
Leinster’s exhibition performance
In running in eight tries and booking a serene passage through to the quarter-finals of this competition, Leinster pretty much ticked all the boxes with this afternoon’s work.
Once Glasgow’s early resistance had been broken, Leinster ran riot as they dispatched a feeble performance from the visitors to maintain their 100% record in Pool 3 and add further weight to the claims they are serious contenders in Europe this season.
The bonus point was safely sealed before the interval and now a tricky six-day turnaround to face the heavyweights of Montpellier comes with everything already decided and Leinster in great shape heading into the business end of the season.
It’s important not to get too giddy about one performance and result, particularly when you take Glasgow’s ‘lifeless’ first-half defensive effort into account, but Leinster are building up a head of steam and they’re going to be very difficult to stop.
Leo Cullen said afterwards that his side were a bit inaccurate in the first half and while it did take them a bit of time to fully get going, they were purposeful and clinical right to the death to entertain the natives with another exhibition display of rugby.
Lowe’s impact
There were so many eye-catching performances throughout the 80 minutes, and Luke McGrath was the sponsor’s man of the match, but any number of Leinster players could have been selected for the award.
Robbie Henshaw produced an all-action display until he was called ashore early in the second half and not only was he a constant threat with ball in hand, the centre was energetic and hungry to make big hits.
Scott Fardy, who scored two tries to open his Leinster account, was a talismanic presence all over the pitch while Sean Cronin was typically dynamic and enterprising.
But again it was James Lowe who had the RDS crowd on their edge of their seat, and leaning forward in anticipation every time he got ball in hand — and the Kiwi didn’t disappoint.
There were moments where he would have had the coaches pulling their hair out with a couple of lapses in concentration or fitful decisions when Leinster were defending but overall he was a menace.
His ability to offload in the tackle, most notably here when he set Johnny Sexton free for his try with a deft one-handed pass inside, is a huge asset and time and time again, he was at the heart of everything Leinster did.
Cullen’s men the team to beat
Such has been Leinster’s rich vein of form and the excitement building around their performances on a weekly basis, the management have been keen to avoid an avalanche of complimentary reporting so to keep things on the ground, but there was more persuasive evidence here to verify the claims they are now the frontrunner for this competition.
Granted Glasgow had nothing to play for today and were feeble and passive in the first half, in particular, but the way Leinster have seized complete control of this pool from the first weekend against Montpellier to this point is incredibly impressive.
There will be stiffer challenges to come, no doubt, but Leinster have blitzed everyone who has crossed their path and are the first and only team to have secured their place in the last eight ahead of the final weekend.
Cullen was quick to downplay their credentials afterwards and certainly it’s important to remind ourselves that it is only January, but this Leinster side has the strength in depth and the clout to go along way in the competition.
The quarter-final date is a long way down the road in April, but whether it’s here or across the way at the Aviva Stadium, it will take something special to come to Dublin and halt this Leinster juggernaut.
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Have to say Kenny saying Seamus was in the best period of his career was a bit disconcerting, because he really is far from it and that statement indicates he’s probably starting. Maybe the solution would be to play the back three we have here, but play Omabamidele as a more defensive oriented wing back to add a bit of pace to cover Mbappe. We’ll likely have most Joy on the break anyway so, playing Ogbene down the right side of the forward line would make sense as he runs into the channel a lot and could take up the space that would be vacated by Omabamidele not pushing as far forward. Horses for courses as they say. In reality though we’re unlikely to get anything out of this game, because are just that good, so hope the usual doom merchants around here don’t start the usual pile on after a loss. The team is growing, we need support not this constant negativity.
@Zim Zimma: There are no doom merchants as you imply, people that know the game inside out are quiet fully aware that we simply do not have the talent and all this tripe about how young the squad are and give them a chance simply doesn’t wash. The sight of Stephen Kenny jumping about and celebrating after Ireland scored the winning goal in a friendly game at home to a team ranked 133 in the world just about sums it all up.
The lack of game time for these players will be shown up now against the French.
Collins especially. Kept running out with the ball from the back.he was dropped by wolves because of that He’s not match sharp.
The Doherty has been glued to the bench since he joined athletico
It be a miracle to get a draw, it’s possible if France have an off night but looking how they played last night be a tall order.
Think if your asking Coleman to cover the right wing versus Hernandez and Mbappe your asking for trouble. Have to double up on that side.
Alot of people questioning Coleman’s selection. But if we are to have any hope of a result in this match, a lot of things would have to happen. One of them would have to be a vintage display from Coleman. Any decent result Everton have managed recently, he’s been key.
Bazunu looks all over the place at Southampton at the minute, would start Kelleher, doesn’t make the same mistakes as Bazunu at the minute
@Lord Lurgan: well bazunu has played football this season kelleher hasn’t.
Kelleher needs to be playing first team football. Then he can be the irish number 1
@Lord Lurgan: How could Kelliher make a mistake he does not play
No
No hope for this team
@Mark Dunne: Do you work for the Samaritans?
Eire team needs to gather the midfield as Argentina Did, attack the flanks
My team
Bazunu
Coleman
Egan
ODara
Doherty
Knight
Cullen
Collins
McClean
Smallbone
Ferguson since Idah is not ready
Doesn’t matter which team we put out, they’ll hammer us. Let’s hope the Dutch don’t get any better than they played last night and we might have a chance against them. Was watching the Greece game aswell and they’ll be tough to get points from. So all-in-all we’re pretty-much bunched. COYBIG!
@Terry Fagan: No reason why we can’t give the french a good game. Holland were awful last night.
@Louis Jacob: Let’s hope so!
Good team. Totally agree about Ogbene on current form. He’s more similar to Mitoma at Brighton than Obafemi, a more direct runner. Smallbone as an option for the second half is good too. Not sure what to do with Doherty but I guess he has to start.
I agree with this team. Up front I like Ogbene’s attitude on the pitch and for that reason combined with his pace and strength I’d like to see him start
Think smallbone played too well against latvia to not start