WHAT REALLY happened in Firhill last Sunday? Did Glasgow chin Bath with a last ditch, wild-swinging counter punch or are they to be considered genuine contenders in Pool Three?
Probably the former but Sean Lineen’s men are certainly improving having unearthed a quality outhalf in Duncan Weir and a potentially world-class lock in Richie Gray. John Barclay and the supporting cast are also pulling their weight.
“I think there are a few tributaries to their wave,” said Joe Schmidt of Leinster’s latest opponents. “There is last week, there is their World Cup guys coming back and the fact they beat us here (winning 23-19 in September).
“We probably had 60 per cent of possession, but they showed their mettle; they will hang in and if they see an opening they are quick to seize upon it. I know there was a bit of fortune in the way (Weir’s 80th-minute attempted drop goal against Bath) bounced but they certainly make it very hard to build a gap on the scoreboard. Very good at slowing things down; we are massively aware Glasgow will be very difficult to knock over.”
Still, they have yet to attain the intensity levels that Leinster can tap into when it really matters. Like in France last weekend.
What started as a dead leg to Fergus McFadden in the noon media missive was clarified as a damaged medial knee ligament at yesterday’s Leinster press briefing. Coach Schmidt calls it straight when asked.
Outside centres and Leinster; a mildly concerning trend is developing with regards to transparency and availability. A few weeks back we were assured, in the very same room, that Brian O’Driscoll had trained earlier in the day and should be available to face Munster. We reported as much, yet O’Driscoll had his long postponed shoulder/neck operation last Wednesday and is out for at least six months. McFadden’s knee/dead leg is not considered too serious – two weeks tops we were assured.
Eoin O’Malley comes in again having positioned himself last season as O’Driscoll’s understudy. Now 23, O’Malley proved in Clermont last December that he can cope with Heineken Cup duty. But the number 13 jersey is up for grabs in both blue and green.
The first time Joe Schmidt saw Isa Nacewa in Auckland, many moons ago, he was cutting it up at outside centre. A somewhat isolated figure on the right wing, now Rob Kearney’s national status demands selection at 15, would Schmidt expect a curt call from Declan Kidney should he drop the Fijian into midfield?
“There haven’t been any calls yet. I know I have a responsibility there. I want to make sure that responsibility is part of our selection process.”
Eoin Reddan, having recovered from a bug, swaps with Isaac Boss at scrumhalf. Seán Cronin’s lung-busting try against Montpellier certainly made the rotation with fellow hooker Richardt Strauss easier for Schmidt.
Yet it is at the lineout that Leinster’s credentials will be seriously examined by Glasgow. Ali Kellock and Gray will target Devin Toner.
The 6ft 10½in Castleknock lad has a real opportunity here. Toner showed enough aggression in last week’s second-half collisions to earn a start but that call is as much down to shoulder injuries sustained by South African Steven Sykes and Damien Browne.
“Dev carries really well and his collision stuff has got better. I have to stand on a couple of boxes to get that high. It is a challenge for any guy that height to bend down. Richard Gray does it pretty well, he is a great athlete but then he is probably not as tall as Devin.”
No one is.
If Cronin and Toner get their lineout rhythm flowing, Leo Cullen will ensure buckets of ball goes up there and it will provide Leinster with yet another attacking weapon.
Either way, they have enough in their arsenal to be chasing a bonus point long before the finish.
LEINSTER: R Kearney; I Nacewa, E O’Malley, G D’Arcy, L Fitzgerald; J Sexton, E Reddan; H van der Merwe, S Cronin, M Ross; L Cullen (capt), D Toner; K McLaughlin, S O’Brien, J Heaslip. Replacements: R Strauss, C Healy, N White, R Ruddock, S Jennings, I Boss, I Madigan, F Carr.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: S Hogg; T Seymour, P Murchie, G Morrison, C Shaw; D Weir, C Cusiter; R Grant, P MacArthur, M Cusack; R Gray, A Kellock; R Harley, J Barclay, R Wilson. Replacements: F Gilles, J Welsh, E Kalman, T Ryder, H Pyrgos, C Fusaro, T Nathan, F Aramburu.
Referee: Andrew Small (RFU).
Betting: Leinster (-16) 10/11. Leinster 1/18, Glasgow 8/1.
Verdict: Leinster with four tries.
