'Winning ugly' may serve Leinster better than blowouts

RTÉ News​

3 days ago

Hugo Keenan admits that Leinster won ugly against Scarlets but getting over the line in nervy contests may serve them better at the business end of the BKT URC.
Just a couple of weeks ago, head coach Leo Cullen wondered about "some of these blowout games, I'm not sure what we necessarily have learned from a few of them".
He was referring to the Champions Cup wins over Harlequins (62-0) and Glasgow Warriors (52-0) that did little in the way of preparing them for the dogfight that was coming down the line against Northampton in the semi-final.
The 76-5 victory over Zebre a week later was of similar worth in the long run.
So Cullen will be able to take some solace from the fact that Leinster were able to prevail in tighter affairs against the Warriors two weeks ago and the Scarlets, 33-21, on Saturday.
URC half-time: Leinster 15-14 Scarlets - Scarlets go the length of the field at the end of the first half.
Updates: https://t.co/RCYrhRspHW
LIVE: https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7 pic.twitter.com/zCAkbFJHei
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 31, 2025
Captain Jack Conan called the performance "inaccurate" and said they "just forced things a little bit...little bit of over-eagerness."
Full-back Keenan, named player of the match, said: "It's all about getting the job done, getting the win.
"It wasn't pretty, it wasn't perfect, we were ill-disciplined and a little bit scrappy, especially in that first half.
"That's sometimes what it's about, winning ugly a little bit."
Leinster led by just a point at the break but grabbed two tries in the third quarter to stay out of reach of Dwayne Peel's side, who had won their regular season tie at the end of April.
"There was a heavy downpour at the start of the second half and we had to manage the game a bit better," added the Ireland full-back (below), who scored the fourth try.
"Jamo [Gibson-Park] and Sam [Prendergast] and the lads put us in the right positions and kept them at arm's length, which was important,"
"In these knockout games, you can't really be taking high risks and playing rugby all the time."
RTÉ Rugby analysts Jamie Heaslip and Donncha O'Callaghan were unimpressed by the Leinster showing, which sets them up for a semi-final meeting with defending champions Glasgow this Saturday (2.45pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
Heaslip called it "lacklustre"; while "rudderless was O'Callaghan's verdict.
Hooker Dan Sheehan was asked about how the squad was dealing with the fall-out from the Saints defeat.
"It's been up and down but I think we've done a good job of sticking together, trying to block out as much outside noise as possible," said the Ireland front row, who will go on the Lions tour.
"I think mentally we're in a good spot, we're looking after each other well and I think that's all we can do.
"We'll rip into our prep now for Glasgow during the week and go again."
The Scottish side have lost nine of their last 11 games against Leinster, including both games this season.
Head coach Franco Smith believes his team, who impressed in the 36-18 win over Stormers on Friday, are better set for another swing at Leinster.
"You must put the Leinster games in perspective," he said.
"The first one, we were in the middle of the season, there were a lot of injuries in that period. There were so many out at that certain stage.
"The expectation [on Leinster] was massive because they hadn't played their top team since the Six Nations.
"Everything worked for them. Nothing went well [for us].
"If that happens with Leinster, they could put international teams away like that. That's what we took from that.
"The next time, we were more ready for the challenge. Hopefully that will help us this time."