Can Glasgow take advantage of Leinster's 'performance anxiety'?
When Leinster crushed Glasgow Warriors 52-0 in the Champions Cup quarter-final back in April, the Irish side looked destined to sweep all before them this season, with visiting head coach Franco Smith describing them as the best club side he had ever seen.Fast forward eight weeks and Leo Cullen's all-star team are starting to show some cracks in their armour.A shock home defeat by Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup semi-final has cast a big old cloud over the Irish side, and perhaps some seeds of doubt, as they prepare to face Glasgow again in the United Rugby Championship semi-final in Dublin on Saturday."The Leinster players don't seem to be playing with any real anger," Bernard Jackman, a former European Cup-winner with Leinster, told the BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast. "In actual fact, it looks like their confidence is gone.
"We have to talk about Leinster this season pre-Northampton Saints and post-Northampton Saints. Pre-Northampton Saints, it looked like they were timing their run to perfection."It's amazing what a defeat can do to you."While Glasgow's quarter-final display in victory over the Stormers hinted at a return to the kind of form that led them to go all the way in the URC last season, Leinster's laboured win over the Scarlets hinted that all is not well in their camp.After losing the last three consecutive finals, the Champions Cup was the trophy they desperately craved and that stunning Northampton victory has led to a lot of soul searching within Irish rugby.A URC title might be viewed as small consolation by some Leinster fans. Indeed, a relatively low crowd of 12,000 turned out for the quarter-final against Scarlets, but there is a feeling the URC crown is the bare minimum if Cullen is to remain in post as head coach next season.
'Leinster heavy favourites, but Glasgow peaking'
For a team considered one of the best-resourced in the world, boasting a plethora of Ireland internationals, British and Irish Lions and global stars such as Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman, a fourth consecutive trophyless season would be unacceptable."Leo must be under an immense amount of pressure," Jackman said."The players probably owe him a performance, or two, and a trophy. But that doesn't necessarily mean you're going to get it."People might say how can one defeat, even against a good Northampton side, knock you off? "But the reality is, when you add them all up together - the Bulls a couple of years ago, the Bulls last year in Pretoria in the URC semi-final, the Toulouse Champions Cup final in 2024 that goes to extra time, La Rochelle three seasons in a row - there's been quite a few big, high-profile disappointments."You probably look around and go, what are we doing wrong? Is it coaching? Is it management? Is it selection? Is it culture? Is it their mentality to be able to dog it out in those tight games? All those things are a doubt."They shouldn't be physically tired. But is that burden of expectation, is that burden of pressure, creating this performance anxiety?"
Glasgow revisited the scene of their Champions Cup humbling three weeks ago and, while they were unable to exact any revenge, the 13-5 URC defeat in the Aviva Stadium was far more competitive. They had to show, to themselves as much as Leinster, they can go toe-to-toe with their Irish rivals.Leinster are still heavy favourites, for the semi-final and the tournament, but this tie no longer has the look of the mismatch that might have been predicted a few short weeks ago.Warriors have got their talisman, Sione Tuipulotu, back and the Scotland centre looks to be firing on all cylinders despite his lengthy injury absence. If anything, he looks refreshed from the break.Flanker Henco Venter returned from his suspension to deliver a towering display against the Stormers, with the likes of Rory Darge and Tom Jordan stepping up with big performances."I was very impressed with Glasgow on Friday night," Jackman said."I watched that and I just thought to myself, 'Wow, Franco Smith and his coaching staff have just got this team peaking at the end again'."They're full of energy and fight and fun and they're just enjoying themselves."Scarlets came to Leinster at the weekend and they weren't afraid. I've absolutely no doubt Glasgow will be even more confident because they have a trophy in their locker."They have just had a performance that I think gives them momentum into this weekend. And they have some players who are absolutely bang on form."I think it's fascinating. It's going to be an unbelievable game."
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