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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Excellent win against a team already looking to the league but still had to be beaten. The Exeter home and more so away performances were excellent in this run. Let’s hope Munster get the job done if not today next week to set up some great chances next week. As for us the next step is looking to who we might come up against, a wounded Sarries or Bath or someone out of the blue
With Home QF now decided, it’s Important to go win In France and ensure a HOME SF.
@Leo Hassett: point needed for top two placing. All we can do is win our quarter. Seeding goes out window if the lowest team on other side of table in the quarters wins. We if we get a point and of course win our quarter only get a Home semi if the higher ranked of the other side wins too
@Scott Crossfield: sorry Scott tad confused
@Marcodub: Scott is right. See here
http://m.epcrugby.com/europeanrugbychallengecup/semi-finals.php
This is what happened after the English and French destroyed the Heineken Cup. A dogs dinner of a semi final selection process.
@Joe Conway: Well said!
A midfield of Nacewa &Henshaw looked v strong. Gary was slow to find form when he came back. He’ll have to work v hard now
Don’t have sky so I missed this.
Did I read that Larmour went to 13 when Kearney came on? How did he go?
@Simon Clarke: Good. He’s been subbed on at 12 before as well and played centre at underage level. He’s certainly put his hand up to be the number 23 sub in the 6 nations at least.
@Rudiger McMonihan: well we know Joe likes some versatility odd the bench, also very handy come WC time
The video review for Lowe will be ugly on D.