LEINSTER CLAIMED A second successive RaboDirect Pro12 title with this initially hard-fought, but later utterly convincing, victory over Glasgow at the RDS.
The result marked the end of nine straight Warriors victories in the competition, with Leinster the side book-ending their late-season march into the the final.
Just as they did in the semi-final against Ulster fortnight ago, Leinster shook off the loss of Brian O’Driscoll to injury to recover a deficit and finish strong.
The difference this time, of course, is that O’Driscoll will not be back, his rugby career cruelly brought to an end with a calf injury after just eight minutes.
Warriors’ rising star at out-half Finn Russell kicked his side into a 6 - 0 lead shortly after the great centre’s exit. But rather than wilt in the face of incessant Glasgow pressure, Leinster were able to inflict the maximum punishment when they did manage to pierce Gregor Townsend’s defensive line.
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Rhys Ruddock and Zane Kirchner knock back Josh Srauss. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Zane Kirchner proved to be the tormentor-in-chief to the Scots. The South African ran in Leinster’s opening score after 17 minutes and his line-break before half-time created the second for Shane Jennings.
Russell would add a penalty either side of that score to leave the half-time score at 14 – 12.
The fear from the home support after the break was that the Warriors’ dominance in territory may eventually count for an opening. But as the third quarter wore on, it became clear that it was Leinster and not their visitors who were growing in confidence, strength and stature.
Jimmy Gopperth would vindicate his selection by extending the lead to 20 – 12 with two penalties. And that scoreline with 15 minutes to go, spelled the end for Warriors.
RTE Player.
RTE Player.
Leinster thrive on situations like this, they so often finish the stronger team and when the opposition has physically and mentally run out of steam, all that was left was for Kirchner and Gordon D’Arcy to turn a tight, intense contest into a rout.
Scorers
Leinster
Tries: Kirchner (2), Jennings, D’Arcy.
Conversions: Gopperth (4)
Penalties: Gopperth (2)
Glasgow
Penalties: Russell (4)
Leinster: R Kearney; F McFadden, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, Z Kirchner; J Gopperth, E Reddan; C Healy, S Cronin, M Ross; D Toner, M McCarthy; R Ruddock, S Jennings, J Heaslip (c).
Replacements: A Dundon, J McGrath, M Moore, L Cullen, S O’Brien, I Boss, I Madigan, D Fanning.
Glasgow Warriors: P Murchie; S Maitland, A Dunbar, P Horne, T Seymour; F Russell, C Cusiter; G Reid, D Hall, J Welsh; J Gray, A Kellock (c); R Harley, C Fusaro, J Strauss.
Replacements: P MacArthur, R Grant, M Low, T Swinson, L Nakarawa, N Matawalu, R Jackson, S Lamont.
Early BOD blow not enough to derail clinical Leinster from retaining Pro12 crown
Leinster 34
Glasgow Warriors 12
LEINSTER CLAIMED A second successive RaboDirect Pro12 title with this initially hard-fought, but later utterly convincing, victory over Glasgow at the RDS.
The result marked the end of nine straight Warriors victories in the competition, with Leinster the side book-ending their late-season march into the the final.
Just as they did in the semi-final against Ulster fortnight ago, Leinster shook off the loss of Brian O’Driscoll to injury to recover a deficit and finish strong.
The difference this time, of course, is that O’Driscoll will not be back, his rugby career cruelly brought to an end with a calf injury after just eight minutes.
Warriors’ rising star at out-half Finn Russell kicked his side into a 6 - 0 lead shortly after the great centre’s exit. But rather than wilt in the face of incessant Glasgow pressure, Leinster were able to inflict the maximum punishment when they did manage to pierce Gregor Townsend’s defensive line.
Zane Kirchner proved to be the tormentor-in-chief to the Scots. The South African ran in Leinster’s opening score after 17 minutes and his line-break before half-time created the second for Shane Jennings.
Russell would add a penalty either side of that score to leave the half-time score at 14 – 12.
The fear from the home support after the break was that the Warriors’ dominance in territory may eventually count for an opening. But as the third quarter wore on, it became clear that it was Leinster and not their visitors who were growing in confidence, strength and stature.
Jimmy Gopperth would vindicate his selection by extending the lead to 20 – 12 with two penalties. And that scoreline with 15 minutes to go, spelled the end for Warriors.
Leinster thrive on situations like this, they so often finish the stronger team and when the opposition has physically and mentally run out of steam, all that was left was for Kirchner and Gordon D’Arcy to turn a tight, intense contest into a rout.
Scorers
Leinster
Tries: Kirchner (2), Jennings, D’Arcy.
Conversions: Gopperth (4)
Penalties: Gopperth (2)
Glasgow
Penalties: Russell (4)
Leinster: R Kearney; F McFadden, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, Z Kirchner; J Gopperth, E Reddan; C Healy, S Cronin, M Ross; D Toner, M McCarthy; R Ruddock, S Jennings, J Heaslip (c).
Replacements: A Dundon, J McGrath, M Moore, L Cullen, S O’Brien, I Boss, I Madigan, D Fanning.
Glasgow Warriors: P Murchie; S Maitland, A Dunbar, P Horne, T Seymour; F Russell, C Cusiter; G Reid, D Hall, J Welsh; J Gray, A Kellock (c); R Harley, C Fusaro, J Strauss.
Replacements: P MacArthur, R Grant, M Low, T Swinson, L Nakarawa, N Matawalu, R Jackson, S Lamont.
Here are the tries that gave Leinster victory over Glasgow in the Pro12 final
Brian O’Driscoll’s final farewell cruelly cut short by injury
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Brian O'Driscoll All-Ireland Senior HC Guinness PRO12 Leinster Match Report Pro12 RDS Glasgow Warriors too strong