Leinster head coach Leo Cullen is excited by the prospect of finishing out the season at Croke Park next weekend.
That’s after the Irish province overcame their recent United Rugby Championship semi-final hoodoo in clinical fashion at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Playing in front of 15,762 spectators at the sparsely-populated Ballsbridge venue – a slight improvement on the 12,879 that attended their quarter-final win over Scarlets in the Aviva last weekend.
Leo Cullen’s side produced an accomplished display to defeat title holders Glasgow Warriors by 18 points and ease into next Saturday’s showpiece in Croker.
They will play the Bulls who saw off the Sharks 25-13 in today’s all-South African semi-final.
The Bulls got the better of Leinster at the penultimate phase of last season’s URC – their third consecutive defeat at that stage of the competition – at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
But 2024/25 has now seen the Blues going at least one step further in their pursuit for top league honours.
Speaking after today’s win, Leo Cullen is relishing another trip back to Croke Park for Saturday’s final.
He said: “Particularly when you’re in South Africa, I’m pinching myself really in those stadiums. You do pinch yourself a little bit.
“Personally I have so much respect for those teams. We were in South Africa last year for a semi-final, obviously lost in Loftus.
“It’s not a great place to end the season. There’s joy for us in the fact that we have another week together. It’s great,”
“There are some great characters in the group that have been around a long, long time. Have been great servants to the club. I know every club will have their version of that as well.
“It’s making sure we have a great week now and get excited about putting on another performance. Show what it means to play for Leinster and show what it means to represent the province.”
In an explosive start to the contest, Leinster and their Scottish counterparts both crossed over for tries inside the opening five minutes.
After Dan Sheehan dotted down in the third minute at the end of an elongated attack that was kick-started by Sam Prendergast booting an early penalty to touch.
Glasgow immediately fired back as scrum-half George Horne bagged a five-pointer via a delicate chip into the ‘22’ from Kyle Rowe.
The fact that Horne couldn’t match Prendergast in registering a successful conversion during these early exchanges ensured the hosts remained in a slender lead.
And their cushion was extended to five points when Prendergast knocked over a routine penalty on 23 minutes.
The visitors were handed a reprieve after a Jamie Osborne try was retrospectively ruled out for a forward pass from Jamison Gibson-Park.
But the Leinster outside centre eventually got his name on the scoresheet when a James Lowe offload released him for a 28th minute score in the left-corner.
The eastern province were becoming more assured in their play as the action wore on and with Thomas Clarkson touching down in advance of front-row partner Sheehan claiming his second try of the half, they brought a commanding 25-5 buffer into the interval.
Prendergast had been off-target with three of his four conversion attempts in the opening period and while he opted for a kickable penalty inside the opposition ‘22’ at a right-hand angle 11 minutes into the second half.
His effort rebounded off the post and into the grateful arms of the Glasgow defence.
Yet this wasn’t a major concern for Leinster on the day and Cullen’s men proceeded to place the outcome beyond any doubt in the third-quarter.
Supplementing another Osborne try on 54 minutes – this time off an elaborate Gibson-Park pass – replacement back Ciaran Frawley got in on the scoring act with a simple five-pointer just shy of the hour mark.
Glasgow eventually responded with impressive solo tries from Jamie Dobie and Sione Tuipulotu in the 72nd and 79th minutes respectively.
But despite not adding to their account in the closing quarter, Leinster comfortably advanced into next weekend’s showdown at the home of the GAA.
LEINSTER 37
GLASGOW WARRIORS 19
Scorers: Leinster: Tries: D Sheehan 2, J Osborne 2, T Clarkson, C Frawley. Cons: S Prendergast 2. Pens: S Prendergast.
Glasgow Warriors: Tries: G Horne, J Dobie, S Tuipulotu. Cons: T Jordan 2.
Leinster: J O’Brien; T O’Brien, J Osborne, J Barrett (C Frawley 56), J Lowe; S Prendergast (R Byrne 61), J Gibson-Park (L McGrath 70); A Porter (J Boyle 59), D Sheehan (R Kelleher 56), T Clarkson (R Slimani 56); J McCarthy, J Ryan (RG Snyman 56); R Baird, S Penny, J Conan (M Deegan 64).
Glasgow Warriors: J McKay; K Steyn, S Tuipulotu, T Jordan, K Rowe; A Hastings (S McDowall h-t), G Horne (J Dobie 52); J Bhatti (R Sutherland 45), G Hiddleston (J Matthews 45), F Richardson (S Talakai 45); A Samuel (M Williamson 45), S Cummings; E Ferrie (J Mann 73), R Darge, H Venter (M Duncan 59).
Referee: A Piardi (FIR).
