Glasgow 15
Leinster 18
Murray Kinsella reports from Celtic Park
IT REQUIRED A steely final defensive stand but Leinster got over the line to secure back-to-back Guinness Pro14 titles by overcoming Dave Rennie’s Glasgow Warriors in front of 47,125 people, a new record final attendance for the championship.
The Warriors scored a 75th-minute try to bring themselves to within three points but Leinster had built just enough of a lead to allow themselves to end their season with silverware.
Teeming rain in Glasgow made conditions difficult and it was a day for the forwards to excel, with vice-captain Rhys Ruddock, the relentless James Ryan and try-scoring man of the match Cian Healy leading the way in that regard as Leinster’s pack muscled up impressively.
Leinster had to survive a yellow card to fullback Rob Kearney with 15 minutes remaining – Glasgow fans felt it should have been red for taking out Stuart Hogg in the air – but their experience and nous over the course of the 80 minutes was just about greater than Glasgow’s.
Centre Garry Ringrose grabbed Leinster’s other try from a Luke McGrath blockdown of Hogg, helping Leinster into a 15-10 lead at half-time.
Leo Cullen’s men scored only three thereafter but they won’t care after lifting the Pro14 trophy on Glaswegian soil, Leinster’s sixth title in the competition leaving them two clear of Ospreys.
Having felt the deep disappointment of a Champions Cup final defeat to Saracens only two weekends ago, this was a fitting way for Cullen and Stuart Lancaster’s team to finish off their campaign.
Glasgow’s wait for their first title since 2015 goes on and they will have regrets about a second-half yellow card to centre Kyle Steyn, as well as their inability to threaten in attack in the second 40 until too late.
Both teams kicked well in a frenetic opening stanza and it was Leinster who had the first chance of the game when Glasgow loosehead Jamie Bhatti went off his feet at breakdown time.
Sexton had a 38-metre penalty from straight in front of the posts, but with Glasgow fans booing as the out-half lined it up, he missed wide to the right to let the Warriors off the hook.
Two minutes later, Sexton threw an inside pass just too low in front of Jack Conan on the Glasgow 22 after a scything Leinster break, started by Rhys Ruddock’s awareness and continued by Garry Ringrose, who sent Sexton racing to into the Glasgow half.
Leinster might have felt Fraser Brown should have been sin-binned for an off-the-ball hit into the back of Luke McGrath in behind a lineout soon after, but referee Nigel Owens judged that it was a penalty only after a TMO review.
The game then swung firmly in Glasgow’s favour as Sexton threw another loose pass to ground, the ricocheting ball bobbling up to Tommy Seymour, requiring Robbie Henshaw to make an excellent tackle near halfway to prevent a breakaway score.
But Adam Hastings cleverly kicked the ball into touch in the Leinster 22 on the next phase, where Jonny Gray stole a lineout and Glasgow went into a powerful multi-phase passage. Lock Scott Cummings’ carry gave them real momentum and it was number eight Matt Fagerson who picked and burrowed over to score on the next phase, Hastings converting.
Leinster’s reply was instantaneous, however, as McGrath blocked down Stuart Hogg’s attempted clearing kick from the restart, with the ball bouncing wide right into the in-goal area, where Ringrose surged forward to ground it.
Sexton couldn’t convert and Cullen’s men were further behind within six minutes, Ringrose’s missed tackle on opposite number Kyle Steyn allowing Glasgow to break back into Leinster’s 22.
Jordan Larmour and Rob Kearney did well to prevent DTH van der Merwe from scoring off that Steyn break, before Hastings opted to carry into Sexton’s tackle when a pass might have resulted in a try. There was offside advantage playing, though, and Hastings slotted the three for a 10-5 lead.
Leinster had an attacking passage halted in the 26th minute when Glasgow hooker Fraser Brown suffered a serious left leg injury while jackaling in a ruck, forcing him to be stretchered off, but they showed controlling and suffocating quality on resumption.
It was a 17-phase sequence that ended with Cian Healy picking and carrying through Rob Harley for Leinster’s second try, ably assisted by a typically good Scott Fardy latch, with Sexton able to convert this time to put the Irish province into the lead for the first time.
A scrum penalty for Leinster allowed Sexton to extend that advantage to 15-10 in the 36th minute, ignoring more boos to hammer his kick over from 45 metres out.
And the visitors muscled up defensively in the closing stages of the half to keep that lead intact, first forcing Harley to knock-on and then with Larmour shoving van der Merwe into touch with the final play of the half.
Another deluge of rain at half-time made ball-handling even trickier in the second half with both teams losing the ball forward in the early exchanges.
Hogg’s dancing feet took him pass Fardy and into the Leinster 22 in the 49th minute as Glasgow built ominously before Ali Price’s loose pass to ground suddenly allowed Leinster to counter as Ringrose pounced on the ball.
The midfielder glided up into Glasgow territory and flicked a pass to the hard-working James Lowe on his inside. Though Lowe was grounded, Steyn didn’t roll away of the tackle and was deservedly binned by Owens for killing Leinster’s momentum.
Cullen’s men went to the corner with that penalty and looked to barge their way over again, winning a penalty under the sticks as Harley failed to release after a tackle. Despite their numerical advantage, Leinster opted to take the points and open up an eight-point gap thanks to Sexton’s straightforward shot at goal.
Leinster began to turn the screw, with Sexton a superb grubber asking Glasgow to run the ball out of their in-goal area, only for Henshaw and Ryan to hammer Gibbins in the tackle for a five-metre scrum.
A penalty at that scrum allowed Steyn to come back on after his 10 minutes in the bin but rather than taking the chance to extend their lead to 11 points, Leinster opted to pack down again, clearly eager to finish the Warriors off.
Three scrum resets ensued before Leinster finally played off the back of the set-piece, only for scrum-half McGrath to knock-on at the base of a ruck two phases later.
Glasgow then won a penalty at the ensuing scrum and suddenly the doubts over Leinster opting not to take their points rose.
Those concerns only grew in the 66th minute when Kearney chased his own garryowen and clumsily collided with Hogg as the Glasgow fullback lept to gather the kick. Replays appeared to show Hogg’s head making contact with the ground but Owens decided only to yellow-card the Leinster man, much to the Warriors fans’ anger.
Glasgow, aiming to seize the momentum, mauled into the Leinster 22 from the penalty but Ringrose and Henshaw combined for a choke tackle turnover on Steyn, before the Leinster scrum – with a new front row of Ed Byrne, Bryan Byrne and Andrew Porter – won a big penalty to allow Sexton to relieve the pressure.
Leinster attempted to run the clock down with their next possession, grinding at Glasgow on their 22 but eventually the Warriors manufactured themselves a turnover to allow themselves back on the attack.
The Scots thrust forward with intent, replacement Huw Jones cutting through Leinster and laying the platform for Peter Horne and Matt Fagerson to send sub hooker Grant Stewart down the right touchline to finish in the right corner.
Hastings couldn’t convert from wide out, leaving the Warriors trailing 18-15 with just four minutes left. But they knocked-on with their final possession, allowing Leinster to wind the closing seconds down and boot the ball off the field to spark the celebrations.
Glasgow scorers:
Tries: Matt Fagerson, Grant Stewart
Conversions: Adam Hastings [1 from 2]
Penalties: Adam Hastings [1 from 1]
Leinster scorers:
Tries: Garry Ringrose, Cian Healy
Conversions: Johnny Sexton [1 from 2]
Penalties: Johnny Sexton [2 from 3]
GLASGOW WARRIORS: Stuart Hogg (Huw Jones ’66); Tommy Seymour, Kyle Steyn (yellow card ’49), Sam Johnson (Pete Horne ’56), DTH van der Merwe; Adam Hastings, Ali Price (George Horne ’58); Jamie Bhatti (Oli Kebble ’53), Fraser Brown (Grant Stewart ’26), Zander Fagerson (Siua Halanukonuka ’68); Scott Cummings, Jonny Gray; Rob Harley (Ryan Wilson ’53), Callum Gibbins (captain) (Tom Gordon ’78), Matt Fagerson.
LEINSTER: Rob Kearney (yellow card ’66); Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (captain) (Ross Byrne ’74), Luke McGrath (Nick McCarthy ’76); Cian Healy (Ed Byrne ’63), Sean Cronin (Bryan Byrne ’64), Tadhg Furlong (Andrew Porter ’64); Scott Fardy, James Ryan; Rhys Ruddock (Ross Molony ’78, Josh van der Flier (Max Deegan ’74), Jack Conan.
Replacements: Rory O’Loughlin.
Referee: Nigel Owens [WRU].
Delighted Glasgow lost. Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of lads. Leinster were by far the better team tonight and deserved the win. Got lucky that Kearney didn’t get a red but who cares, game is over and Leinster are champions. Great to have a bit of good news in Irish rugby before the international squad convenes. Healy was definite man of the match and I thought conan, Ryan, Ruddock and henshaw were all super.
@Jim Demps: ringrose outstanding in defence too
@Jim Demps: I’m sure Glasgow fans care..
@Jim Demps: I thought ringrose was immense as well
@Cryptoalcho: I’m sure they care they lost.
@Anthony: yeah both centres had a very good game.
@Jim Demps: i agree that crowd of players and fans deserve each other , horrible shower. Good game to watch. I thought nigel controlles the game well
@Jim Demps: Well said Jim
@Chris Tobin: yeah I thought Owens was good. He doesn’t get everything right but he’s not afraid to make a decision and certainly isn’t afraid to over rule the tmo and touch judges. It’s how a game should be reffed, the guy in charge taking responsibility and taking charge of the occasion.
@Cryptoalcho: Whether they care or not, they’ll still boo and hiss. Horrible fans. Delighted they lost
@Jim Demps: what is your objection to Glasgow? They play the best rugby in the league and, having been to Scotstoun, they’re a great club for family involvement and the fans were great craic in town after.
@JoeO: constantly booing Owens and basic decisions including maul turnovers in open play etc. not gracious in defeat, booed at the final whistle. Plus, I thought Owens had his best performance in a big match in the last 12 months.
@JoeO: I’ve mostly disliked them since they went out to break Conor Murray’s leg a few years back. Couple that with the constant booing by their fans of the kicker and also rugby Scotland’s constant lack of support for the IRFU and it amounts to my dislike for the club.
@Jim Demps: Jeeze, Leinster play a truly boring version of rugby. Still, they won but they won’t win very much more if they continue to play this kind of shite against opposition playing with flair and style.
@wattsed56: You’re actually serious! And yet Leinster won. Deservedly. And playing, by their standards, relatively poorly.
@Jim Demps: All of the above plus Fagerson and Price are two of the most arrogant pr1cks you ever saw (no denying the obvious talent).
@Jim Demps: yeah that finished them for me, tinkers.
@JoeO: Did you see the constant booing at the match last night? Horrible team with a nasty set of fans
@Jim Demps: I’ve been in Scotstoun once, never again, very unwelcoming. The only place I’ve been where the crowd booed the ref as he came out to inspect the pitch, horrible shower.
@wattsed56:
As you said about yourself “UK Patriot ” you lost but there is allways next year !!
Such respect for the kicker from Glasgow. Great to see so many stayed for the presentation. Kip
If you’re picking on form (and that’s not always the case for a variety of reasons I understand), but Conan is in control of the #8 green jersey. Huge performance again today, and he has outperformed Stander all season. Adds a completely different carrying dimension than Stander, who tends to run at people instead of space.
@Oval Digest: to be honest I think Ruddock is making more of a case for his inclusion. So alert today and great defense
@Oval Digest: The trio of O’Mahony, Leavy and Stander worked perfectly with all three bringing something different as well as the basics, it all depends who’s playing 7, i personally would pick Stander for any knock out games but let Conan have the tough pool games
@Oval Digest: conan has been outstanding this season. Fair play to him he really has stepped up. Great to have 2 contrasting 8s available to the national team. On form it should be POM who should watch out. Shifting CJ to 6 could let conan play 8. Offers more ball carrying ability, but limits us in the lineout,especially defensively.
@A Person: spoken like a true ( one-eyed) Munsterman
@Oval Digest: yeah on form Conan should be first choice at 8. As good as Stander is Conan has a more rounded game. With Leavy out and SOB not back to his best Stander provides good cover at 7. Tbh I’m starting to wonder if that might be his best position as he’s been immense every time he’s played there over the years. I’m still not totally convinced about Ruddock over POM though. At his best POM is amazing. He’s just had a poor season. But plenty of time for him to come right.
@David O’Brien: Conan is a great Lineout jumper, he won a turn over in the line out early on in the game
Ringrose and Henshaw were exceptional
Thanks Seanie and the best of luck to ya
In those conditions that was some game of rugby, beyond tense. The drink will taste all the better. Great performance from Leinster, game management was spot on. Bitta momentum to take into the summer internationals. Phew!
@Ian Verdon: how that ball didn’t squirt out of the deadball area I will never know,victories are small margins ,but hey Champions again
@rugbyanbeer: yeah the spin on that ball was the difference in the game! Madness
@rugbyanbeer: thank god for the shape of a rugby ball it spung like a good thing!
Last season they got the double. This season they were 40 minutes away from the double, but for a brilliant Saracens team. Good season, all things considered.
Delighted Leinster won. Mostly just to get a rise out of a bitter Jim Demps!
@Andy Dwyer: ? Doesn’t get a rise out of me at all. I’m delighted Leinster won. Doesn’t say much about you though that I’m your first thought after a successful game.
@Andy Dwyer: at least he is consistent. Ha
@Jim Demps: Thanks Jim, an Irish rugby supporter. Don’t mind all the eejits in this slagging munster/you off.
@Jim Demps:
You picked us so fair enough with you being Delighted and thanks for your support (that is the way it should be ) Irish against another country one team you go for !! Now the World Cup :: all together now
COYBIB:: COYBIR :: COYBIN :: COYBIW
@Andy Dwyer: Read the first post again.
@Martin Quinn: you can keep your kind words Martin. I’ve no more interest in what you have to say than my bath mat. You’re incapable of holding a conversation on here and I’m surprised you haven’t been banned again the way you go around insulting people.
@Jim Demps: well said
@Fred Mchugh: I take no notice Fred, happy out to talk about rugby but I generally ignore the personal stuff.
@Martin Quinn: you do realise that insulting other commenters or playing the man so the speak is against the terms of use of the comment section?
@Jim Demps: They’re more guidelines than actual rules. Very poor enforcement.
@Conor Alexander Lynott: well there you go i guess.
@Jim Demps: you have a talking bath mat? I’m glad I don’t, all I’d get from him is lose some weight ya fat f@€ker.
Seriously Jim like most of us who post we are all a little one eyed on here and it takes away from our true opinions of which are not as one sided.
@Jim Demps:
Only about comments about a great Irish Coach , that we all know what a good man he is and you call him a racism because he made a off the cuff comment and you pushed a 70 post comments section on that subject ::I complained to them but they did not do anything about it:: be careful with you words ::Tried to block you but I cannot because I work off a PC and no app for it::So be careful of what you say as I will report you again !! No more posts about Leo ::OK
They are mosely anti Leinster posts about all good people and great Rugby players !!
I have rows with Munster POSTERS but never about Munster players or Club as we are all one team IRELAND
@Martin Quinn: I’d actually love to see what you said when you reported Jim.
@Martin Quinn: firstly Martin racism and sectarianism aren’t the same thing. Secondly I didn’t accuse Cullen of anything he didn’t do. They’re his words not mine and he apologised for them so he knew he made a mistake. Play the ball not the man.
There’s no offside line anymore
Class touch by Sexton to let SOB lift the trophy.
@Lord Scramoge:
I think it shows what the whole of LEINSTER think of that MAN :: one of our great legends as well as an IRISH legend!!
Congratulations Leinster very well done from a very ardent Munster fan
I said earlier in the week that there’s no way Owens should’ve gotten this game and it bore out.
He got the two big decision of the game wrong.
He has had numerous poor games this season.
And yet we’ll still get eejits calling him the best in the world because of his #banter.
@Oval Digest: was the 2 big decisions, the hit on Luke mc grath and the Kearney incident?
@Macca: Yep. Clearly should’ve been yellow and red.
@Oval Digest: that hit on mc grath was filthy!. Kearneys was a red imo
@Oval Digest: not a red because of the way hogg landed , stupid rule but the landing decides red or yellow.
@Macca:
What is all this about “”WE WON “” what is all this talk about the ref that comes later !!!
WELL DONE LADS COYBIB
@Martin Quinn: what?
@Martin Quinn: Very hard to decipher what you are trying to say!
@Macca: and Luke walkee
I made that comment at the very start and was expecting “”great win”" but all that was talked about was the ref
So sorry but it was the time line ::
As a Munster supporter i’m delighted for Leinster a well deserved victory. Especially the way they’ve dominated rugby this season and deserve it least one trophy for their effort’s no doubt they’ll be at the top of the pile again next season
@Michael Jerseys: With the amount of players Leinster will surrender for the World Cup, I’d say they will be weakened next season.
@Conor Alexander Lynott: I’d say they’ll fair better considering they used 57 players in the pro14, who else would have that depth
Great way to end the Rugby Season. Congrats Leinster
Delighted Leinster beat that mob!
Well done Leinster from a Connachtman.
Conan was immense.Irelands best no 8 now.
Irish rugby needed that. Committed Munster supporter but the way things are at present a strong Leinster is needed for a strong Ireland. Ringrose was everywhere this evening. Thought he should have been MOTM but tbf Healy was quality too. Sexton not at his best at all. It’s a worry. He’s potentially third in the from stakes behind Joey and carty. Still first choice but I’m anxious AF. Conan was better than stander this season but he’s been given numerous opportunities at test level and has taken very few. It could be horse for courses between him and stander come September. It’s amazing how Healy has got himself back to this level when two years ago he was at sea. What a man. Incredible that Fagersons filthy hit on McGrath wasn’t punished – disgusting play. Delighted Leinster won. Glasgow can go do do one
@Adam Noonan:
Mistaken identity there
@Mark Smith: it’s only my second time commenting. Hope I’m not missing out on a 42 comment section in joke
@Adam Noonan: tbf, Leinster fan. I think Sexton is on the wane, however better than carty, Joey and Byrne
@Adam Noonan: I think he means that it wasn’t fagerson who hit McGrath. It was frasier Brown the hooker.
@Jim Demps: the second time I’ve made that mistake today. Time to out the pints down
@Danger: sexton is the best defensive 10 on the planet, while his attack was a little off yesterday the line of JVDF Sexton henshaw and ringrose won that game.
@Chris Mc:
Yes I though he was off a bit, very few flat passes which is very unsual as it is his first go to effort :: His defence was out of the top draw but just seemed a bit off !!
As a Leinster fan it is great to read all the good wishes from the rest of the Clubs :: We got a big well done from the craziest Poster (you know who he is ) and all we can say is thank you IMO
Classic final performance not letting Glasgow play the way they wanted too. Unlike Munster last week who never looked like troubling Leinster Glasgow in a heartbeat could trouble Leinster. Pity Nick Noel and Jack didn’t lift the trophy too but that’s only a minor thing. The yellow for rob was lucky that inches between him landing on the shoulder first instead of the head. Worthy champions and nice end to the season for all the squad.
@mrbryanrussell: Never looked like troubling Leinster? I thought Glasgow were brilliant in the first half and Leinster were lucky to be ahead at halftime.
@Conor Alexander Lynott: the part you missed might clear it ip for you. UNLIKE last week munster never looed liked troubling us Glasgow did. Glasgow the moments we took the foot off their necks looked dangerous
@mrbryanrussell: oh that wasn’t in the bag at all,weather, yellow card a blessed knock down in a tiny dead ball area ,very nervy
@rugbyanbeer: yea what a spin off the ball for that block down. On another note is the groups changing this summer for the next two seasons?
@mrbryanrussell: I haven’t a clue lets savour the moment ,pints of Heino home on the dort and a roide with Sorcha
@mrbryanrussell: “pity nick, Noel and jack didn’t get to lift the trophy” I disagree, they all chose to leave. Jack hasnt player well since the lions. Although Noel has been very good this year, he has been average to poor in most seasons prior to this . Nick…they lad will struggle to get game time at munster. He did feck all to contribute to the success of the pro14, he’s been injured most of the season
Congratulations Leinster very well done from a very argent monster fan
@Dermot Murray:
Thanks for that:::: a true Irish Fan ::
Unreal game of rugby and delighted Leinster got the win. Seriously impressive performance and never looked in doubt like the semi despite the score line. Enjoy the celebrations tonight!!!
Congratulations to Leinster well done but can anyone justify the decision to go for the scrum when ye had a penalty in front of the posts. It is cup rugby surely take points was the correct decision this is a worrying decision as to who is making the on field calls genuinely hope that I am wrong
@Brian Gallivan: our scrum was dominant and they were down to 14 a try at that stage would have killed the game. I’d always take 3 but there’s some logic to it.
@Brian Gallivan: Indeed. I’d argue there are some questions emerging about captaincy at Leinster and leadership of on-field decision-making. Jonny is clearly a brilliant 10, but I wonder if the combined burden of moment-by-moment tactical decision-making as 10, and being captain, with all the demands that involves (dealing with referees and contentious situations, etc), is simply too much for one person. If it is, then the result would be exactly what we’re seeing: performance as 10 not what it was; and performance as captain subject to potentially disastrous lapses.
Well done to Leinster they know how to grind out a victory.
Kept it tight in the rain and risk adverse rugby
Winners
That Adam Hastings couldn’t kick snow off a rope and I’m not talking about his conversion attempt, his kicking out of hand is woeful.
@Jim Lynch: I thought Hastings was outstanding in the first half and his kicking game was excellent.
Second half he was much quieter because Leinster held on to the ball and dominated the first 20 minutes of the 2nd period and Hastings was replaced.
@Paul Ennis: who came on for him? He had one good clearance kick but the rest were barely finding 15 meters. He’s young though so all in all good experience for him
@Jim Lynch: he was ibiza last week, good prep for a final
The Edge plays rugby ??
Experience of winning showed thru, lucky as regards Kearney but that hit on McGrath was shocking too… Sexton is not playing anywhere his best which is an enormous worry. All said, delighted that Leinster won; it’s good for Irish rugby.
Can only assume the choice to go for the scrum rather than the points was that an 11 point lead doesn’t make it a three-score game and puts the ball in your own 22 at the very least, and Glasgow’s previous restart had shown just how dangerous they could be from that set piece.
Wasn’t a great game but Leinster always looked like they would win, even though they played poorly for parts. The ref made a few strange calls but in fairness both teams benefited equally. Leinsters midfield was the difference between the two teams.
Leinster winning in Paradise.
What on earth is happening in this world??