Leinster respond after recent criticism clearly touched a nerve
It's been 36 days since Leinster's Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Northampton. Yesterday, the home side played like a team who were fed up of hearing about it.
The entire operation has been copping it since their seemingly unstoppable charge to a fifth and belated European title was derailed in Dublin on May 3.
All the recent criticism has clearly touched a nerve. On the night before this game, the province's media team put up a 30-second video showing some less than complimentary headlines in the wake of the flawed Scarlets win, with the caption: 'We're not here to prove people wrong. We're here to prove ourselves right.' Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
The mental fortitude of this injury-hit squad has been questioned in recent times. Had they checked out after their latest Champions Cup failure? Those noises grew louder in the wake of last week's laboured, nervy and error-strewn quarter-final win against Scarlets.
This was a resounding response to all the recent flak. There were just 15,762 spectators in attendance for yesterday's game. There were vast swatches of empty seats. This felt more like a pre-season game than a URC semi-final.
We wondered how this Leinster team would pitch up against an in-form Glasgow side, the reigning champions, who fancied their chances, especially when they learned that Josh van der Flier and Hugo Keenan had joined Caelan Doris, Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose and Tadhg Furlong on the sidelines this week.
Still, Leo Cullen was able to name a matchday squad featuring eight Oz-bound Lions, an All Black and a Springbok. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
And no shortage of the big names fronted up. Dan Sheehan was the pick of the bunch. Andy Farrell and Johnny Sexton were in attendance and the Lions head coach – and one of his right-hand men in Australia – will have pencilled Sheehan in to start the first Test against Joe Schmidt's Wallabies in Brisbane on July 19.
Porter, Ryan, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe won't be far from the Test team either.
It would be fascinating to hear what Farrell and Sexton made of Sam Prendergast's performance. On a day of so many positives, the Leinster No10 delivered another mixed display.
Yes, Prendergast ran a rejuvenated attack with real presence but he had an off day with the boot while his defence will be scrutinised again. It's worth remembering that Prendergast is only 22 and still learning on the job in a team with such lofty ambitions.
That's the thing about Leinster and all the recent criticism. A lot of it has been justified. This team should be winning trophies. They should go on and claim a first league title since 2021 next weekend. They should be stockpiling URC trophies, especially when they play like this. Leinster have a dozen Lions in their ranks. They have set the bar high. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
There was an urgency about Leinster yesterday which had been sorely lacking in recent weeks. There was real venom in every carry, clearout and kick chase. Save for George Horne's early try, Leinster dominated possession and territory during a first-half display which was laced with intent.
Glasgow looked lost long before they found sanctuary in the dressing room at the break.
Save for the brilliant Sione Tuipolutu, they struggled to make an impact. When Horne fumbled a routine pass in the dying minutes of the first half, it summed up a fairly miserable opening 40 minutes for the visitors.
It was fitting that Sheehan was the one credited with Leinster's fourth try of the first half after the Leinster pack – and half the home backline – had mauled they way over the Glasgow line.
The Leinster hooker was a force of nature and caused Glasgow all sorts of problems with his carrying and energy. It was Sheehan who breached their line after just two minutes, scything through without a hand on him. It was the fourth time that Sheehan had carried the ball during a relentless opening attack. It was an ominous sign of what was to come. Sheehan was one of the standout performers but Andrew Porter, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Jordie Barrett and Jimmy O'Brien weren't far behind. Tommy O'Brien and James Lowe were brimming with energy and purpose.
Jamie Osborne was having a big game, too. The young midfielder has been denied a try at one stage but made amends a few minutes later when he was the beneficiary of some slick handling from Barrett, O'Brien and Lowe. That score was the epitome of Leinster's approach yesterday. It was slick, direct and devastating. It felt like the hosts were exorcising a few demons in real time.
This didn't look like a team which had checked out. The 25-5 half-time score told its own story.
Franco Smith replaced his out-half Adam Hastings with Stafford McDowall at the break, the Glasgow boss hoping the powerful centre's presence might halt some of the one-way traffic in the second half. Leinster players after their Champions Cup defeat by Northampton. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Leinster didn't let the foot off the pedal. They continued to attack in waves. Smith replaced half his front five to inject some much-needed energy into a team which looked overwhelmed.
When Osborne crashed over for his second try, you wondered if Leinster were going to better the 52-0 rout of the same opponents at this venue in April. Cullen then called Sheehan, Porter, Thomas Clarkson, Ryan and Barrett ashore with 25 minutes left to play. Thoughts were already turning to Saturday's final at Croke Park.
Soon Ciaran Frawley – one of the second-half cavalry – was crossing for another try. The floodgates had well and truly opened.
This was a procession long before the final whistle. Even the concession of few late tries and a late downpour couldn't dampen the mood inside the stadium.
A repeat of the same intensity, cohesion and accuracy next weekend will finally secure some coveted silverware. The URC was not the title this squad craved this season but they need something to show for their efforts.
The scar tissue from the Champions Cup remains but this felt like the beginning of the healing process.
This was some response after a difficult time for the club. Shame there weren't more people here to witness it. Leinster are box office when they're in this kind of mood.
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