Leinster stormed into the United Rugby Championship final with a dominant 37-19 victory over reigning champions Glasgow Warriors at the Aviva Stadium. The six-try performance ended a run of three straight URC semi-final exits and set up a home final at Croke Park next Saturday against the Bulls, who beat the Sharks 25-13 in Pretoria.
Dan Sheehan opened the scoring just three minutes in after a clever floated pass from Jamison Gibson-Park. Sam Prendergast added the extras, but Glasgow responded immediately — Sione Tuipulotu sent Kyle Rowe flying down the left wing, and his kick inside set up George Horne to score.
The game then swung decisively in Leinster’s favour. Jamie Osborne scored the first of his two tries after a break down the left wing, Thomas Clarkson crashed over from a scrum, and Sheehan powered in for his second on the stroke of half-time to give the hosts a 25-5 lead.
Osborne crossed again after the break, and Ciaran Frawley added Leinster’s sixth as the home side continued to dominate possession and territory.
Glasgow’s resistance never fully faded. Jamie Dobie sniped over from close range late on, and Tuipulotu added a brilliant solo try — cutting inside three defenders and stepping past the last — to give the Warriors some consolation.
Leinster, who were top seeds after the regular season and had crushed Glasgow 52-0 in the Champions Cup quarter-final in April, now head into their first URC final with a chance to claim a ninth league title, though a first since the competition was rebranded.
Reaction
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said:
“We reacted really well to Glasgow’s early score. I think we managed the game and the conditions very well.
It’s all about getting through no matter how we did it, but we made the right decisions throughout the game.
We prepared well this week and we will do so again this week.
We will try to make the travel that one of the South African teams will have to make next week count.”
Glasgow head coach Franco Smith said:
“They are a quality outfit and brought a huge performance. I felt their urgency and they put pressure on us.
On the day, we were not good enough, especially in the first half. We should have started better and then we wouldn’t have had to chase the game.
I don’t think the strategy was wrong, they are good at the aerial battle, but I am really proud.
We had a lot of boys unavailable this week. I must look at the big picture. It was a tough task to come here and win.”
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FINAL SCORE: Leinster 37–19 Glasgow Warriors
Leinster tries: Sheehan (2), Osborne (2), Clarkson, Frawley. Conversions: Prendergast (2). Penalty: Prendergast.
Glasgow tries: Horne, Dobie, Tuipulotu. Conversions: Jordan (2).
