Glasgow coach Sean Lineen rates Joe Schmidt's side very highly, writes GAVIN CUMMISKEY
LEINSTER’S STUNNINGLY consistent form so far this season is only blotted by head-to-heads with two of the other RaboDirect Pro 12 title contenders.
The Ospreys, Munster’s opponents on Friday night at the Liberty Stadium, won both regular season encounters, while Glasgow Warriors were victorious in Dublin and drew at home.
It should be noted that Leinster’s Pro 12 statistics for 2011/12 are won 18, drawn one and lost three.
The 27-3 loss in Swansea came in round one on September 5th with Glasgow’s 23-19 win following two weeks later.
The next and only other defeat for Joe Schmidt’s blossoming charges didn’t arrive until the Ospreys’ 23-22 victory on March 23rd, a night when the Leinster coach rejected the option of uncontested scrums by switching young Jack McGrath into an unaccustomed tighthead bind after Jamie Hagan was carted off.
In contrast, the Ospreys could send on Lions prop Adam Jones.
The 10-10 draw in Glasgow on February 25th came on a night when, again shorn of their Irish internationals, Leinster survived the concession of a penalty try as Isa Nacewa secured two points with a late kick.
But the most telling meetings this season between Glasgow and Leinster came in Europe. The Warriors arrived at the RDS last October in high spirits, having beaten Bath a week previously thanks to a late try by Richie Gray. They were smashed 38-13 with outgoing coach Sean Lineen admitting as much afterwards: “Well, we got well and truly spanked, didn’t we? They won the contact battle hands down both in attack and defence. That first 40 minutes they caught us with our pants down. Around the ankles. We just didn’t come to the table, especially at contact time.”
The other meeting, in January, saw Leinster win on autopilot, 23-16, to confirm their dominance of Pool Three.
“This game is slightly different,” said Lineen of Saturday’s return to the RDS. “It is a stand-alone game, really. We’ve played them four times and we’ve an awful lot of respect for them. We are going across there to give it our best shot.”
Leinster finishing 10 points clear of second-placed Ospreys and with 16 points to spare on Glasgow seems like a truer reflection of the gulf in standards.
“They are definitely the most consistent team with both home and away form,” Lineen continued.
“They have set the standards very high, they have a fantastic squad, a lot of belief and they work very hard for each other; 15 decision makers in attack and 15 loose forwards in defence.”
Lineen was talking at last Sunday’s Pro 12 awards ceremony in Cardiff, with Schmidt sitting alongside him.
“I think the fact we used 50 fellas last year, we’ve used 49 this year, forces guys to develop and step up to the level,” Schmidt responded.
“We’ve had a good balance between the experienced guys who have been available to us, including our overseas guys who, when we lose our internationals, become pivotally important. The likes of Isa Nacewa, Richardt Strauss and Heinke van der Merwe. Their experience they share with the young guys like the Andy Conways or Brendan Mackens, even Noel Reid, who was playing against the Dragons the other night, is important.
“Ian Madigan has come on and even got a [European] starting match under his belt against Montpellier at the RDS.”
Schmidt agrees all this progress becomes largely irrelevant should Leinster lose their next two games.
“Balancing all that up it has been a really positive year for us but we’ve got two games coming up that will determine whether it is successful. I think it’s been positive but now it needs to be successful.”
One of the coach’s direct tactical routes to winning has been a strict adherence to discipline, especially at the breakdown.
Leinster were recognised at Sunday’s ceremony with the Fair Play award, for the second year running, having only received eight yellow and no red cards or post-match citings.
“I’m sure Seán will contest it, but we are always legal . . .” Schmidt was interrupted by his opposite number’s bellowing laugh: “He said that with a straight face and with Leo [Cullen] beside him as well!”
Schmidt: “Leo has had three of the yellow cards.”
The argument being that Cullen has taken a few hits for the team. As a captain should.
Glasgow were perhaps the surprise packages of the Pro 12 awards with three players – outhalf Duncan Weir, prop Jon Welsh and lock Tom Ryder – selected in the team of the season. They were also awarded the “collision kings” prize for their efficiency at the breakdown and tackling. However, when collecting the award, Glasgow captain Ali Kellock conceded that Leinster are the true masters of the breakdown.
Saturday’s fifth meeting will provide confirmation one way or the other.
