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Telegraph
5 days ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Five ways Springboks are innovating to stay ahead of the curve
Legacy is sure to be a driving force for the Springboks as they hunt down the unprecedented achievement of a third consecutive World Cup triumph. In 2023, Jacques Nienaber continually referenced the fact that South Africa, then tied with New Zealand on three World Cups each, were hoping to pull clear of the All Blacks. They did so, thanks to a hat-trick of one-point wins in the knockout rounds. Some cite sporadic lapses and tight victories rather than blow-outs as evidence that the Springboks are not as dominant as other great sides. The Rugby Championship, which starts on Saturday at Ellis Park in Johannesburg against a Wallabies outfit that will be buoyant from beating the British and Irish Lions in the final match of the series, feels like an opportunity for consolidation in that regard. South Africa are holders. Remarkably, though, they have never retained this tournament or its predecessor, the Tri Nations. Indeed, they have only five titles from 28 campaigns since 1996. New Zealand, on the other hand, have 20 from 29. Only once, in a Tri Nations purple patch for Australia (2000 and 2001), have the All Blacks gone two years without lifting the trophy. What a way to start the week! Check out the #Springboks team to face Australia at Ellis Park on Saturday 🔥 #ForeverGreenForeverGold — Springboks (@Springboks) August 11, 2025 All roads lead to Eden Park on September 6 when the Springboks will bid to snap New Zealand's 50-Test, 31-year unbeaten run at that venue. France's victory over Ireland during the Six Nations was enthralling, while the Lions and the Wallabies served up an epic in Melbourne. But that game in Auckland, and perhaps South Africa's autumn trip to Paris, are this year's most seismic Test matches. Rassie Erasmus is preparing accordingly, by striving to keep his team ahead of the curve. Tactical mischief Last year it was Cheslin Kolbe feeding scrums and an aerial transfer between two lifting pods against Australia: Five weeks ago, in their second Test against Italy, the Springboks unfurled an even funkier play. Borrowed from Paul Roos Gimnasium, whose exploits in a school fixture whirled around the internet, it began with a reasonably routine set-piece. Ruan Nortje is the jumper and André Esterhuizen spears over the gain-line: On the following phase, though, Grant Williams bounces in the opposite direction. Nortje is stationed in a conventional first-receiver role, where he is hoisted by Ox Nché and Wilco Louw. Nché lifted Nortje at the initial line-out, whereas Louw began concealed behind Esterhuizen in midfield: Italy concede a penalty advantage for collapsing the maul and Canan Moodie scores off the back of Grant Williams's lateral run: Much later, in the second period at closer range, Malcolm Marx finds Nortje slightly further towards the tail. Esterhuizen sets a target again… …before Nortje is lifted by Marco van Staden and Nché. This clip gives a great view of how three more forwards – Pieter-Steph du Toit, Salmaan Moerat and Marx – are poised to establish the drive: Italy infringe once more, though that does not stop Marx from completing a pushover: With that, South Africa put away this trick and did not use it against Georgia. This is not inane gimmickry. Two tries from two attempts obviously represents an impeccable strike rate. Establishing a maul with a lift from open play is perfectly legal provided that defenders are not obstructed before it is formed and that the jumper is brought down safely. The area between the 22 and the try-line becomes very crowded very quickly and this practice mitigates variables such as disruptive jackallers. Breaking down a defence over multiple phases requires coordination, concentration and stamina. A maul re-sets the sequence. If the drive is stopped, backs can run a strike move from a solid base. Certainly, it was more successful than a different ploy from the opening seconds of the same match. No longer able to elect for scrums from free-kicks, as they did at the 2023 World Cup when Damian Willemse called for a mark against France, the Springboks attempted to manufacture one from the kick-off. They did so, with Esterhuizen intentionally jumping the gun to gather Manie Libbok's kick and referee Andrew Brace blowing for an Italy put-in: A mischievous smirk from Rassie Erasmus in the coaching box spoke a thousand words: As it happened, South Africa conceded a free-kick for an early push and would not have a chance to repeat the trick because they won 45-0 and did not have another restart. World Rugby subsequently clarified that Brace should have penalised the Springboks for a deliberate infringement. Even so, the episode underlined that Erasmus – humble and curious enough to appropriate the mauling idea from a school team – is always pushing the boundaries to keep rivals on their toes. He has Jaco Peyper, the former international referee, on his staff to help interrogate grey areas. Frankly, coaxing other teams to spend even 20 minutes on possible curveballs in training might be viewed as a win for Erasmus. Attacking ambition and flouting convention South Africa can always fall back on blunt-force trauma and primal intensity. Erasmus is a master at rallying his players behind their nation's cause and they have the capacity to squeeze teams with territorial pressure and a suffocating set-piece. They have, however, gradually expanded their horizons. The arrival onto the staff of Tony Brown, a Kiwi attack coach known for his ingenuity and ambition, has expedited this process. Since 2021, a year in which the Springboks implemented a pared-down game plan – partly out of necessity because of chaotic preparations – they have gradually moved the ball more to feed their speed out wide. According to Stats Perform, their average number of passes per match has risen year-on-year from 93 in 2021, at 1.4 per ruck, to 145 last year, at 1.75 per ruck. In 2024, they averaged 7.9 offloads per match, up from three in 2021. Across the three Tests so far this year, South Africa have recorded 165 passes and almost 94 attacking rucks per 80 minutes. Such figures reflect a side that has become more comfortable in possession. RG Snyman unsurprisingly leads the 2025 offloading charts with four. This effort against Georgia, in the build-up to a try for the quicksilver Kurt-Lee Arendse, was extraordinary: Earlier in that 55-10 triumph came a mesmeric team move finished by Moodie. It begins with Cobus Wiese carrying off the shoulder of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu after a five-man line-out: The next phase features six passes as Williams wraps around two forwards before feeding Feinberg-Mngomezulu behind the run of Damian de Allende: From the next breakdown, Williams scoots against the grain in a manner that is becoming his trademark. Remember how he sliced apart England last November? Here, he links with Edwill van der Merwe in open space. Nortje, part of the loop on the second phase, and Aphelele Fassi keep the move going. Moodie then arrives to finish: Two rucks, 12 passes, one memorable try. And while South Africa have reduced their kicking – putting boot to ball around 25 times per match last year compared to 30 in 2021 – there is more variety. They possess a fleet of clever kick-passers including Libbok, Handre Pollard, Willie le Roux, Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Damian Willemse, allowing them to hit touchlines and open up the pitch in the blink of an eye. In the second Test against Italy, from an opposition restart, Esterhuizen stood at first-receiver and poked a shallow kick over the top. Du Toit and Moodie clattered Ross Vintcent with Makazole Mapimpi swooping to force a breakdown penalty: Attacking kicks are a prolific weapon, with Faf de Klerk's hooked chip setting up a roaming Van der Merwe against Georgia: Amid these developments, there is little danger of the Springboks forgetting their foundations. Prop farming Whether via the two Chasing the Sun documentaries or though the X account of Erasmus, the Springboks know how to build narratives and offer up morsels of insight. Daan Human, their scrum coach, is one imitable character in the fascinating blend of their back-room team. This year already, he has invited Jan-Hendrik Wessels and Asenathi Ntlabakanye to stay at his farm in the Free State, coined as 'Kamp Daandraad' by Erasmus, to work on scrummaging specifics including conditioning and technique. Kamp Daandraad!! — Johan Erasmus (@RassieRugby) June 24, 2025 Human insists that scrum machines have limited value, but does seem to swear by one old-school contraption that looks like a medieval torture device, complete with chains and a rotating buffer to bind on. Ntlabakanye, a hulking tighthead prop with dainty footwork in the carry, is said to have lost around 18 kilograms thanks to his visits to the farm. He still weighs around 140kg (22st), and is bound for a second cap from the bench against Australia this weekend. New blood from Baby Boks Another theme of the current World Cup cycle for South Africa is their quest to broaden their pool of internationals. They used 50 players in 2024 while winning 11 of 13 matches. Australia (52), France (61), Scotland (65) and Wales (56) selected more, but the Springboks are still introducing new faces into a gnarled squad at a healthy rate and have handed out 19 Test debuts since the beginning of last year. In Van der Merwe, starting this weekend, they have blooded a wing with similar characteristics – swivelling hips, explosive acceleration, low-slung power, scrum cap – to Kolbe and Arendse. Lood de Jager, who traded Sale Sharks to join a host of compatriots in Japan with the Saitama Wild Knights, appears to be putting his injury worries behind him, which is a fantastic bonus. Senior figures are coveted and veterans have a path into the fold, but Erasmus could not be accused of stagnating. He is fixing the roof while the sun shines. He brought three stars of the South Africa's Under-20 World Championship victory directly into a senior conditioning camp at the end of July. They are all potentially generational talents. Haashim Pead, an electric scrum-half, Cheswill Jooste, an evasive wing, and rollicking back-rower Bathobele Hlekani have produced jaw-dropping highlights for the Baby Boks. Listen to Felix getting involved 😤🔊 Getting the ball off Bathobele Hlekani is no simple task 😂👇 #SSRugby — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 31, 2025 One clip circulated by Super Sport saw Hlekani undertaking a combative contact drill in which South Africa appear to place great stock. Jasper Wiese could not strip the ball from him, but the tenacious Pead managed it. All the while, Felix Jones was keeping an eye on the finer technical details and geeing up Hlekani. Irishman Jones's return from a brief stint with England is another fillip. VIDEO TO EMBED: Hybrid for hidden six-three split It is not just about assembling six-twos and seven-ones. Erasmus stays open-minded about when to introduce replacements. Nché came on for Thomas du Toit just half an hour into the second Test against Italy, for instance. South Africa had stuttered the previous week, yet made light of Wiese's red card to pile up an impressive scoreline. When Wiese was dismissed, television cameras picked up a conversation between Jones and Mzwandile Stick: Esterhuizen took on a hybrid role. From defensive scrums, he stayed in the backline as the Springboks trusted six forwards to hang tough. South Africa maintained width in the backline so that their defence, now overseen by Jerry Flannery, could still impart pressure. Moodie immediately blitzed up from this position… …to force a turnover: Esterhuizen, a hefty athlete and an excellent jackaller, moved to flanker for his team's own put-in, and helped muscle this penalty straight away: From line-outs, he stayed in the backline to play pull-back passes from first-receiver such as this one: Starting at inside centre against Australia in the absence of De Allende with the versatile Willemse among the replacements, Esterhuizen could move into the pack late on. In that respect, the five-three bench that Erasmus has selected – and announced on a Monday – might as well be a six-three. Siya Kolisi, who usually occupies the 15-metre channels in attack, starts at the base of the scrum with Williams and Libbok as speedy half-back pairing and Fassi at full-back. The plan, seemingly, is to run the Wallabies off their feet, though there are still bruisers such as Eben Etzebeth, Du Toit and Marx set for the physical battle. Undoubtedly, the goal will be a ruthless performance and a statement result to begin the Rugby Championship.
The Irish Sun
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Leinster rocked as senior coach Jacques Nienaber linked with shock return to South Africa
LEINSTER senior coach Jacques Nienaber has been linked with a potential departure from the province, according to reports. The news comes despite him still having a year left to run on his current contract with the Advertisement 2 Leinster senior coach Jacques Nienaber has been linked with a move away from the province, according to a report 2 The South African has been vital in implementing Leinster blitz defence - and is contracted to the URC champions for anothe year The 2023 The Dublin-based province lost in the Now, speculation has emerged that Nienaber could return to South Africa. Advertisement read more on rugby A report from White left his position following the Nienaber is said to be on a four-man shortlist that includes Johann van Graan, Franco Smith and Johan Ackermann. And in a further worry to Leinster, according to the Rapport report - they have already made contact with the Northern Cape native. Advertisement Most read in Rugby Union Any move would likely require a buyout, as Nienaber remains under contract with Leinster and the IRFU until spring 2026. The Leinster senior coach has previously denied any chance of him leaving the province whilst under contract with the four-time European Cup winners. Craig Casey shares hilarious 'fear' weighing on him before captaining Ireland for first time vs Georgia
The Star
15-06-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Bulls shut down, shut up in one-sided URC defeat to Leinster in Dublin final
Hindsight is a scurrilous science because it is easy to be a genius when you have it, yet when we saw how a Leinster team containing 12 British and Irish Lions obliterated the Bulls, you wonder why many South Africans thought the South Africans had a realistic chance in the URC final in Dublin. The Bulls were shut out, shut down and shut up by a Leinster team masquerading as the Ireland national team. And the Dubliners did it from the first minute. They smashed the Bulls back in every aspect of the game and 80 minutes later, the Bulls had not fashioned one single attacking movement comprising more than four phases. In short, they did not fire a shot in crumbling to an embarrassing 32-7 defeat, their third loss in URC finals in the last four years. It will be crushing for Jake White and his team — they lost to the Stormers in the first URC final, last year they failed to pitch up when favourites to the Glasgow Warriors in Pretoria, and now a humiliation in Dublin. And it will hurt the Bulls all the more that the chief architect of their destruction was former Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber. The Leinster defence completely smothered any Bulls' attempt to attack. To be fair to the Bulls, often the Leinster rush defence was palpably offsides. The Leinster centre Jordie Barrett repeatedly tackled man and ball way off side but referee Andrea Piardi and his touch judges did not pick him up. The astonishing fact, though, is that the Bulls were emasculated up front, which gave that rush defence a second or two out of the starting blocks because the Bulls spent the evening back pedaling from the forward exchanges. For seven months of the URC league phase, the Bulls' set piece went forward. Relentlessly. But when it mattered most, the Bulls forwards were neutralised. The callous might say they were neutered. Even the mighty Wilco Louw, who had been supreme all season, could not gain his customary advantage. The extenuating circumstance was that the Leinster pack, as a unit blasted through their Bulls opponents. There was a moment in the second half that summed it up — the Irishmen had won another scrum penalty and Louw's opponent, Andrew Porter, jumped about like a lunatic. Leinster had a plan for the scrums and they applied it magnificently. With zero front ball, the Bulls had nothing to offer. All of their plans remained on the team room blackboard. At 19-0 after 20 minutes they were history. No way can you start so badly overseas at a hostile venue and expect to win. With the Bulls' pack getting a bloody nose, there was no momentum to launch attacks. It was good night nurse way long before half-time. Ironically, the Bulls' best period of the game was a five minute period before half-time, but like the Sharks in the semi-final at Loftus Versfeld, the Bulls had little attacking know-how.
Irish Times
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Emphatic Leinster display delivers URC silverware as Bulls put to the sword at Croke Park
URC Grand Final: Leinster 32 Bulls 7 Redemption of a sort at last. Regrets, they'll have a few this off-season, but Leinster are champions again. Maybe it's not the title they most crave, but their first URC title per se is by some distance the pick of their nine successes in this competition's many iterations. What's more, having topped the table by eight clear points with 16 wins out of 18, and then negotiated two more knock-out ties, Leinster underlined the worthiness of this success by emphatically beating a South African superpower. Rarely have champions been so indisputable. In the process they exorcised a few demons and finished the season on what should be a hugely satisfying note. They and their supporters had the pleasure of doing so in front of a 46,127 crowd at Croke Park, the biggest attendance for an Irish final by eclipsing the 2018 decider when Leinster beat the Scarlets and last lifted silverware in front of a real, live, breathing, cheering home crowd. Leinster did so not just be reaffirming they have a more complete game than a Bulls team which they made look quite blunt with the intensity of their line speed and tackling on what was an important day in the Jacques Nienaber experiment. READ MORE They also dominated the air thanks to the brilliantly varied kicking game of Sam Prendergast, who gave another example of his mental strength as well as technical ability with a performance which had fire in his belly and ice in his veins. Luke McGrath, a late call-up, and James Lowe contributed to this varied kicking game, as did the chasing and competitiveness of Tommy O'Brien. The Lions such as Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Jack Conan delivered handsomely, and so too in his typically influential all-round final outing did Jordie Barrett, and the bench had much the better impact, especially Rónan Kelleher, Rabah Slimani and RG Snyman. Josh van der Flier celebrates scoring Leinster's third try during the BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final against the Bulls at Croke Park. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho But once again huge energy came from the others, not least Ryan Baird in his sixth 80-minute effort in a row since that Northampton heartbreak, full of oomph in his carries and his defence, as well as ultra reliable at lineout time. 'It's been a long time coming,' he told the crowd afterwards when admitting to being nervous all week. The Leinster scrum also took on the Bulls' point of difference and actually emerged in credit. This was a very complete victory which ought to quieten idle talk about Leinster's big-match mentality. Rumours had been rife in the couple of days before this game that some of Leinster's 10 named Lions would not make the kick-off, so it was not entirely surprising that Jamison Gibson-Park was confirmed as a late withdrawal. The other nine were fit and present, including eight starters, and McGrath is not exactly a green horn. Most likely McGrath had been running at 9 for much of the week's training anyway and however little others carrying knocks were able to do, Leinster exploded from the blocks. There was an expectant roar for the game's first scrum and an even bigger one when the Leinster pack gained the game's first penalty to earn an initial territorial foothold in what was a declaration of intent. Leinster's Tommy O'Brien challenges for the ball with Sebastian De Klerk of the Bulls at Croke Park. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho When another penalty to the corner ensued and Sheehan hit Baird for a third time at the front in their opening three lineouts, the maul was held up. But Sheehan peeled off tellingly and Tommy O'Brien's decisive clearout paved the path for Conan to plough through one tackle and score. Also aware of the goalkicking and defensive issues which Prendergast brought into the game, there were roars after he executed a difficult conversion and then led the line to make his tackle on Harold Vorster. Leinster's defence and aerial game continued to win all the 50-50 moments. After Vorster needlessly conceded a penalty for pushing his hand into the face of a prone Joe McCarthy, Tommy O'Brien reclaimed McGrath's box kick and then Barrett made the call, and was already moving, when the scrumhalf chipped into space. Barrett then cleverly volleyed the bouncing ball first time over Willie le Roux and Tommy O'Brien permitted the departing All Black to win the touchdown for his seventh try in 15 games. Prendergast converted again to make it 14-0 inside 14 minutes. Josh van der Flier was making his presence felt everywhere, notably when driving back Jan-Hendrik Wessels and with another scrum penalty advantage, Prendergast spiralled a majestic 50-22 when playing with house money. Le Roux, who would have an abject day, riskily tried a cross-kick inside his own 22 and was fortunate to see Lowe knock on. Cue another bout of aerial ping-pong which Leinster again won, as Jimmy O'Brien countered. Leinster probed the blindside off the recycle, Conan making the carry and offload before Tommy O'Brien transferred quickly for Sheehan to make inroads along the touchline in his inimitable style. Leinster's Dan Sheehan fends off the challenge of Embrose Papier of the Bulls. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho Somehow Marcell Coetzee was not yelled-carded when then coming in from the side to take out Tommy O'Brien but the penalty was tapped into the corner, Shehan hit McCarthy at the tail and Van der Flier emerged from the maul to score untouched. Prendergast missed that touchline conversion and two more attacks ended when he opted to kick before touch judge Mike Adamson appeared to miss Le Roux putting his standing foot on the touchline in his own 22. This effectively led to a Bulls attacking lineout when their fullback found grass to finally win an aerial duel. There followed two prolonged, close-range, multiphase Bulls attacks. But Van der Flier set the tone for the first with a chop tackle on Coetzee off a five-metre scrum, and Baird did likewise for the second when driving back the Bulls' number eight after a lineout drive five metres out. That attack and the first half ended with Le Roux floating a pass forward intended for Johan Grobbelaar on the edge, prompting an animated Prendergast to smack hands with a plethora of team-mates, while Baird cupped his ear to the crowd as Leinster jogged to the dressingroom 19-0 ahead, whereas the Bulls trudged off. On the resumption, more effective work off the ball by Barrett led to a penalty which Prendergast landed before the Bulls' blunt attack eventually delivered in the 51st minute. A scrum penalty to the corner led to replacement hooker Aker van der Merwe scoring off a close-range lineout. Johan Goosen converted and another scrum penalty seemed to confirm the momentum swing but Snyman's counter-ruck and Leinster's fringe line speed forced a turnover and with a scrum penalty advantage, both Prendergast and Snyman made inroads. Fintan Gunne scores a try despite the attempt of Willie le Roux to stop him. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho The introduction of Kelleher and Slimani, soon after Snyman, proved telling, another scrum penalty leading to two close-range assaults on the Bulls' line. But two knock-ons, the first by Snyman, were compounded by Prendergast missing a kickable penalty. Even so, after Tommy O'Brien restored Leinster's aerial supremacy – alas Sebastian de Klerk injured his knee in the duel – with a strong power play off a lineout, Prendergast atoned to make it 25-7 before he and McGrath were replaced by Fintan Gunne and the departing Ross Byrne. Confirmation that this most definitely not Le Roux's day came with an unforced knock-on outside his own 22, prompting cheers when the double World Cup winner then irately kicked the ball off the pitch. To add to his frustration, from the ensuing scrum Gunne looped around a three-man attacking pod and took the expertly timed pull back from Byrne to beat Zak Burger on his outside and take Le Roux's tackle to score a fine try. That sealed the deal and there were also appreciative cheers when, fittingly, Byrne landed the conversion. The fans could breath a little easier and start the 'Lein-ster' chants, and soon after Conan – with a little help from the tracksuited duo of Caelan Doris and Cian Healy – could lift the trophy. At last. Cue a raucous lap of honour and party time. SCORING SEQUENCE – 6 mins: Conan try, Prendergast con 7-0; 14: Barrett try, Prendergast con 14-0; 22: van der Flier 19-0; ( half-time 19-0 ); 44: Prendergast pen 22-0; 51: Van der Merwe try, Goosen con 22-7; 68: Prendergast pen 25-7; 73: Gunne try, Byrne con 32-7. LEINSTER: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (capt). Replacements: RG Snyman for Ryan (42 mins); Rónan Kelleher for Sheehan, Rabah Slimani for Clarkson (both 56); Fintan Gunne for McGrath, Ross Byrne for Prendergast (both 69), Jack Boyle for Porter, Max Deegan for Conan, Jamie Osborne for Ringrose (all 74). BULLS: Willie le Roux; Canon Moodie, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Sebastian de Klerk; Johan Goosen, Embrose Papier; Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Johan Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw; Cobus Wiese, JF van Heerden; Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje (capt), Marcell Coetzee. Replacements: Jannes Kirsten for Wiese (36 mins); Akker van der Merwe for Grobbelaar (45); Alulutho Tshakweni for Wessels (52); Mornay Smith for Louw, Nizaam Carr for Coetzee (both 65); Devon Williams for de Klerk (66), Keagan Johannes for Goosen (68), Zak Burger for Papier (71). Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR).
BBC News
07-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Will Franco Smith stay on after Glasgow's Dublin drubbing?
In a season Franco Smith says has "had more positive days than negatives ones", it was a shame Glasgow Warriors' campaign ended on a big downer in the most familiar setting for such disappointments - the Aviva home of Irish rugby has been a graveyard for Scottish sides. None - not Glasgow or Edinburgh, not Scotland – has ever won in the Aviva, and Warriors never looked remotely capable of ending that desperate run as Leinster ripped the URC title from their frustration is Glasgow did so little in the semi-final to stop them. Aside from George Horne's early try and a quickfire double from Jamie Dobie and Sione Tuipulotu when the match had long ended as a contest, Warriors were dominated in every facet of the the battles – possession, territorial, tactical, aerial, discipline, contact – were bossed by the men in blue. "Going in half-time 25-5 down meant we would have to be extraordinary in the second part of the game. It's a little bit of an uphill battle then," Smith told BBC Scotland after the match."They didn't allow us to play, I thought their defence was excellent. (Leinster senior coach) Jacques Nienaber is doing a great job. He's a twice World Cup winner with that type of defence that they've used."They were on top of it today, they've limited teams the whole season from scoring points against them, and no difference today."I think once they smelled blood in the second part of the game, it was always going to be hard to cancel that deficit."It was like groundhog day in Dublin. Leinster walloped Glasgow 52-0 in the Champions Cup quarter-final back in April and while the deficit on the scoreboard may not have been as wide on this occasion, everything else pointed to two sides operating on different an injury-plagued campaign, reaching the last four has been a credible defence of their URC crown. The only regret is Glasgow did not have one last fight in made a case before the game that Leinster may choke under the pressure while still struggling to come to terms with the Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Northampton that prompted such soul-searching. Glasgow never put themselves in a position to test Leinster's was emotional post-match, no doubt stung by the nature of the loss and drained after another long and demanding season away from his has been much speculation as to whether the South African wants to fulfil the final year of his contract at Scotstoun. He left more than a few breadcrumbs back in February when he left the door open to an approach from Wales to replace Warren Gatland. That vacancy has yet to be permanently were campaigning for Smith to step up and replace Gregor Townsend as Scotland coach after another underwhelming Six Nations. Townsend names his squad for the summer Tests on Tuesday – he's going publicly expressed his frustration with the departure of key players this summer such as Henco Venter, Tom Jordan and Sebastian Cancelliere amid the SRU's drive to promote young Scottish talent, it would be understandable if Smith now felt he had taken Glasgow as far as he asked directly by BBC Scotland whether he would still be at Scotstoun next season, the head coach offered no guarantees."I'm looking forward to reflect a little bit," he said."I think it's 44 weeks we've been at it, there's only 52 weeks in the year, so it's a full year's work."If you defend the title you have to be on top of your game in all of it, so it will be important for me now to go and reflect a little bit, and take a bit of downtime, and hopefully see what's going to come next."
