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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Leinster power past Glasgow to book URC final date against the Bulls at Croke Park
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen is excited by the prospect of finishing out the season at Croke Park next weekend. That's after the Irish province overcame their recent United Rugby Championship semi-final hoodoo in clinical fashion at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. Advertisement 2 Dan Sheehan and Jamie Osbourne bagged brace each in Leinster URC semi-final win over Glasgow in Dublin 2 Leinster now play the Bulls in the decider next weekend at Croke Park Playing in front of 15,762 spectators at the sparsely-populated Ballsbridge venue – a slight improvement on the 12,879 that attended their quarter-final win over Scarlets in the Aviva last weekend. Leo Cullen's side produced an accomplished display to defeat title holders Glasgow Warriors by 18 points and ease into next Saturday's showpiece in Croker. They will play the Bulls who saw off the Sharks 25-13 in today's all-South African semi-final. The Bulls got the better of Leinster at the penultimate phase of last season's URC – their third consecutive defeat at that stage of the competition – at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. Advertisement read more on rugby But 2024/25 has now seen the Blues going at least one step further in their pursuit for top league honours. Speaking after today's win, Leo Cullen is relishing another trip back to Croke Park for Saturday's final. He said: 'Particularly when you're in South Africa, I'm pinching myself really in those stadiums. You do pinch yourself a little bit. "Personally I have so much respect for those teams. We were in South Africa last year for a semi-final, obviously lost in Loftus. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union "It's not a great place to end the season. There's joy for us in the fact that we have another week together. It's great,' 'There are some great characters in the group that have been around a long, long time. Have been great servants to the club. I know every club will have their version of that as well. 'Big weekend' - Peter O'Mahony embarking on hectic gardening project as he aims to add '300 plants' 'It's making sure we have a great week now and get excited about putting on another performance. Show what it means to play for Leinster and show what it means to represent the province.' In an explosive start to the contest, Leinster and their Scottish counterparts both crossed over for tries inside the opening five minutes. Advertisement After Dan Sheehan dotted down in the third minute at the end of an elongated attack that was kick-started by Sam Prendergast booting an early penalty to touch. Glasgow immediately fired back as scrum-half George Horne bagged a five-pointer via a delicate chip into the '22' from Kyle Rowe. The fact that Horne couldn't match Prendergast in registering a successful conversion during these early exchanges ensured the hosts remained in a slender lead. And their cushion was extended to five points when Prendergast knocked over a routine penalty on 23 minutes. Advertisement The visitors were handed a reprieve after a Jamie Osborne try was retrospectively ruled out for a forward pass from Jamison Gibson-Park. But the Leinster outside centre eventually got his name on the scoresheet when a James Lowe offload released him for a 28th minute score in the left-corner. The eastern province were becoming more assured in their play as the action wore on and with Thomas Clarkson touching down in advance of front-row partner Sheehan claiming his second try of the half, they brought a commanding 25-5 buffer into the interval. Prendergast had been off-target with three of his four conversion attempts in the opening period and while he opted for a kickable penalty inside the opposition '22' at a right-hand angle 11 minutes into the second half. Advertisement His effort rebounded off the post and into the grateful arms of the Glasgow defence. Yet this wasn't a major concern for Leinster on the day and Cullen's men proceeded to place the outcome beyond any doubt in the third-quarter. Supplementing another Osborne try on 54 minutes – this time off an elaborate Gibson-Park pass – replacement back Ciaran Frawley got in on the scoring act with a simple five-pointer just shy of the hour mark. Glasgow eventually responded with impressive solo tries from Jamie Dobie and Sione Tuipulotu in the 72nd and 79th minutes respectively. Advertisement But despite not adding to their account in the closing quarter, Leinster comfortably advanced into next weekend's showdown at the home of the GAA. LEINSTER 37 GLASGOW WARRIORS 19 Scorers: Leinster: Tries: D Sheehan 2, J Osborne 2, T Clarkson, C Frawley. Cons: S Prendergast 2. Pens: S Prendergast. Glasgow Warriors: Tries: G Horne, J Dobie, S Tuipulotu. Cons: T Jordan 2. Leinster: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, J Osborne, J Barrett (C Frawley 56), J Lowe; S Prendergast (R Byrne 61), J Gibson-Park (L McGrath 70); A Porter (J Boyle 59), D Sheehan (R Kelleher 56), T Clarkson (R Slimani 56); J McCarthy, J Ryan (RG Snyman 56); R Baird, S Penny, J Conan (M Deegan 64). Advertisement Glasgow Warriors: J McKay; K Steyn, S Tuipulotu, T Jordan, K Rowe; A Hastings (S McDowall h-t), G Horne (J Dobie 52); J Bhatti (R Sutherland 45), G Hiddleston (J Matthews 45), F Richardson (S Talakai 45); A Samuel (M Williamson 45), S Cummings; E Ferrie (J Mann 73), R Darge, H Venter (M Duncan 59). Referee: A Piardi (FIR).
CNA
a day ago
- Sport
- CNA
Leinster to face Bulls in United Rugby Championship final
Irish side Leinster will face the Bulls from South Africa in the United Rugby Championship final at Croke Park in Dublin on June 14 after both recorded home semi-final victories on Saturday. Leinster defeated defending champions Glasgow Warriors 37-19 at the Aviva Stadium, while the Pretoria-based Bulls beat compatriots the Sharks from Durban 25-13 in front of 47,000 spectators at Loftus Versfeld. Hooker Dan Sheehan and fullback Jamie Osborne scored two tries each for record eight-times winners Leinster as they feature in the final of the competition for the first time since 2021. Leinster led when Sheehan crossed for the first score and they raced into a 25-5 halftime lead against their outmuscled opponents. Replacement flyhalf Ciaran Frawley and prop Tom Clarkson also crossed for tries. The only negative for coach Leo Cullen will have been the form off the tee of number 10 Sam Prendergast, who missed several simple kicks at goal. "It's making sure we have a great week now and get excited about putting on another performance, showing what it means to play for Leinster," Cullen told reporters. "Can they (his players) play their best every week? Listen, they're not robots. There is an opposition that is fully motivated as well. It's about dusting ourselves off now, it was a very physical game and I'm sure the (final) will be too." The Bulls will play their third final in four seasons, but lost on both previous occasions to Stormers in 2022 and Glasgow. They scored three tries against the Sharks through wings Sebastian de Klerk and Canan Moodie, and centre Dan Kriel. "I am proud with the way we defended, we were under the pump and sometimes you need those moments to get into the game," Bulls coach Jake White said. "It is a third final in four years and hopefully we can learn from the mistakes we made in the other. We play really well away from home."
Reuters
a day ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Leinster to face Bulls in United Rugby Championship final
June 7 (Reuters) - Irish side Leinster will face the Bulls from South Africa in the United Rugby Championship final at Croke Park in Dublin on June 14 after both recorded home semi-final victories on Saturday. Leinster defeated defending champions Glasgow Warriors 37-19 at the Aviva Stadium, while the Pretoria-based Bulls beat compatriots the Sharks from Durban 25-13 in front of 47,000 spectators at Loftus Versfeld. Hooker Dan Sheehan and fullback Jamie Osborne scored two tries each for record eight-times winners Leinster as they feature in the final of the competition for the first time since 2021. Leinster led when Sheehan crossed for the first score and they raced into a 25-5 halftime lead against their outmuscled opponents. Replacement flyhalf Ciaran Frawley and prop Tom Clarkson also crossed for tries. The only negative for coach Leo Cullen will have been the form off the tee of number 10 Sam Prendergast, who missed several simple kicks at goal. "It's making sure we have a great week now and get excited about putting on another performance, showing what it means to play for Leinster," Cullen told reporters. "Can they (his players) play their best every week? Listen, they're not robots. There is an opposition that is fully motivated as well. It's about dusting ourselves off now, it was a very physical game and I'm sure the (final) will be too." The Bulls will play their third final in four seasons, but lost on both previous occasions to Stormers in 2022 and Glasgow. They scored three tries against the Sharks through wings Sebastian de Klerk and Canan Moodie, and centre Dan Kriel. "I am proud with the way we defended, we were under the pump and sometimes you need those moments to get into the game," Bulls coach Jake White said. "It is a third final in four years and hopefully we can learn from the mistakes we made in the other. We play really well away from home."
Irish Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Leinster v Glasgow talking point: Leinster lineout steals the show
There were many good things about Leinster's performance against Glasgow in Saturday's URC semi-final at the Aviva. The energy was up, the aggression and physicality was elevated and there was no sense of weakness or frailty in defence as they suffocated Glasgow and freely scored. The scrum was dominant and from scrum penalties Leinster were able to kick for the corners. There, it was the Leinster lineout that stole the show for the home side, where Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Joe McCarthy and James Ryan seemed to be in complete control and were able to make it a dangerous attacking platform. It was a welcome return of their attacking set piece. Three of the Leinster tries came from the lineout, either directly or after a few phases of play. The first try that arrived in the third minute came after multiple phases. Outhalf Sam Prendergast kicked a turnover penalty to touch deep in the Glasgow half. Ryan Baird secured the ball and after multiple phases Jamison Gibson-Park drilled a pass to a running Dan Sheehan, who muscled over for the opening score. The decision to kick for touch set up Leinster in an attacking pose early in the match and it was an instant pay-off. READ MORE Which Ireland players will step up for the summer squad while the Lions are away? Listen | 27:53 In the 32nd minute a dominant Leinster scrum earned another penalty and Prendergast was again called to kick for territory and an attacking lineout. Sheehan hit the rising Baird who delivered the ball directly back to him. Sheehan took off on an arching run and popped it for James Lowe, who took it to the line. A couple of phases later prop Tom Clarkson muscled his way over for Leinster's second try. Jordie Barrett went over in the 48th minute following phased play after a lineout but spilt the ball forward in contact as he got over the line and it was disallowed. But again the platform was working well for Leinster and offering them scoring opportunities. A silly offside from Tom Jordan on 54 minutes and Prendergast again opted for the offensive set piece. Sheehan hit Conan at the front and the pack drove towards the Glasgow danger zone. Four phases later, with Sheehan twice taking the ball up, Gibson-Park spotted Jamie Osborne infield by the near post. The scrumhalf's laser pass found his centre in motion, and Osborne flew over by the post for Leinster's fifth try, making it 30-5. It was fantastic awareness from Gibson-Park, who saw the space inside him and again the lineout was the trigger for Leinster to essentially put the match to bed. After some weeks of what Jamie Heaslip described as 'wibbly wobbly' lineouts, Leinster finally got all the pieces to fit together as they should and turned it into a lethal weapon.
TimesLIVE
a day ago
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Leinster reach URC final with 37-19 win over Glasgow
Leinster eased into the United Rugby Championship final as hooker Dan Sheehan and fullback Jamie Osborne scored two tries each in a 37-19 semi-final victory over defending champions Glasgow Warriors in Dublin on Saturday. The Irish side will face either the Pretoria-based Bulls or the Sharks of Durban in the final at the same venue on June 14. The South African sides play in the second semi-final later on Saturday. Jamie Osborne and Leinster are marching to the #VURC final 🔥 Glasgow have no answers at the moment. 📺 Stream on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 7, 2025 Leinster led from early on as Sheehan crossed for the first score and they raced into a 25-5 halftime lead against their outmuscled opponents. Replacement fly-half Ciaran Frawley and prop Tom Clarkson also crossed for tries. The only negative for coach Leo Cullen will have been the form off the tee of number 10 Sam Prendergast, who missed several simple kicks at goal. It did not matter this week but could be a deciding factor in the final.
