Leinster 19 Glasgow 15: The double remains on for Leinster, two finals await, as does the possibility of becoming the first team since Wasps in 2004 to take home both domestic and European honours. It doesn't happen often, and on tonight's evidence, it's easy to see why.
Even with all of Leinster’s evolution under Michael Cheika and the further progress made under Joe Schmidt, there are going to be games like this, a battle with casualties, where things don't quite come off at the right time and when full-blooded endeavour takes its toll.
Leinster controlled much of the ball and territory, and on another day it could have been a typical RDS rout, but Warriors were true to their name and even when Dave Kearney finally crossed for the homeside’s only try with just over 10 minutes left, they hit back with one of their own and pilfered another in injury time to outscore the hosts in touchdowns, at least.
There was plenty at stake and it showed. Leinster now head into the week of preparation for a Heineken Cup final against Ulster with concern surrounding the fitness of Gordon D’Arcy, Cian Healy and Eoin O'Malley adding to existing worries over Brian O’Driscoll (knee) and Rob Kearney (back), who sat out tonight’s fixture.
"It was a bit of dogfight, breakdown was a bit of a mess from the start," said Jonathan Sexton, who scored 14 of Leinster's points, afterwards. The outhalf went on to describe the ruck as "an absolute joke", but insisted it was better to "make the mistakes now" and be looking forward to two finals.
Wtih seven days before a Twickenham date with Ulster, Schmidt was clearly concerned in the immediate aftermath, most particularly with fitness of O'Malley, who would be in line to replace O'Driscoll if the talisman is not fit by Thursday.
D'Arcy (eye) and Healy (ankle), he reckons, will make next weekend, but whether they make the league final against Ospreys a week later is anyone's guess.
“We’ll have a number of guys in doubt now,” said the coach, before adding: “We’re certainly on for next week and we’ll try to patch a few guys together for the week after that.”
Glasgow do not have the best defence in the league by chance. They showed incredible resolve to keep the reigning European champions at bay for large periods. Even when young centre Alex Dunbar was sent to the sin bin after a series of penalties conceded by the Scots, Glasgow refused to buckle and Leinster could only manage three points.
The home side had taken an early lead through Sexton, the Irish international on target with his first penalty attempt after just seven minutes. Glasgow were back on level terms two minutes later as Leinster conceded a penalty from the restart and Duncan Weir made no mistake.
D'Arcy then limped off to be replaced by Ian Madigan midway through the half before Sexton put Leinster back in front.
Dunbar took his leave for 10 minutes after he prevented a quick release when Glasgow were under pressure, but Leinster failed to make it count, and, despite dominating early in the second half they struggled convert their chances into points.
On a rare incursion into Leinster territory, Weir missed a long-range penalty, and was again off-target from closer in two minutes later. However, he was not the only man to lose his radar, with Sexton hooking a routine effort just before the hour.
Sexton was back on target on 62 minutes when Alastair Kellock went a fraction too early to put pressure on Eoin Reddan at a ruck, Leinster led 12-3.
And with a quarter of an hour to go Leinster took their chance when Isa Nacewa spotted a match-up with Kellock in the backline and sent Kearney over in the corner. Sexton added the conversion from the touchline to put Leinster three scores clear.
They almost added a second two minutes later as Andrew Conway collected a cross kick and dotted down but he was ruled offside.
Glasgow showed some fight to get a try three minutes from time as replacement hooker Dougie Hall dived over in the corner before Stuart Hogg was quickest on to Ruaridh's Jackson's grubber for a try with the last play of the game.
