Glasgow vs Leinster

Leinster slipped to their first defeat of the Rabodirect Pro 12 League Friday against a determined and well drilled Glasgow side. The score line finished 12-6 to the Warriors and, in truth, Leinster were lucky to be that close. This is a Glasgow side who should be challenging for the Play Offs, at least, come next May.
The game struggled to come to life during the first 20 mins of the first half. Both sides made one or two line breaks which were quickly snuffed out by opposition defences. The scrum proved an issue for Leinster again last night. Whereas the problems appeared to be technical issues last week, this week Glasgow, more often than not, overpowered the Leinster pack. Both Mike Ross and Jack McGrath seemed to be driven back at scrum time but they’d win penalties from referee Peter Fitzgibbon for technical issues with the Glasgow Props Binding.
Infact the first score of the game did eventually arrive when Leinster were awarded a penalty after a collapsed scrum. Glasgow loose head Ryan Grant was penalised for dropping his bind and causing the scrum to collapse. Despite his and Glasgow Captain Chris Cuisiter’s protest to Peter Fitzgibbon, the referee was clear in his request for Grant to lengthen his bind. On a perfect night for kickers, Jimmy Gopperth landed the penalty from 40m out to give the visitors the lead. 3-0 Leinster after 24 mins.
The home side had an opportunity to respond straight away after Leinster conceded a scrum penalty, compounding the knock on from second row Tom Denton whilst trying to field the restart. Stuart Hogg, the Scotland and Lions international stepped up and skewed his kick from the touchline horribly.
Leinster suffered an injury blow when new signing, Australian winger, Lote Tuqiri, suffered a hamstring injury and had to be taken off after 30 mins, with the returning Rob Kearney making his seasonal debut.
Hogg had a chance to make amends for his earlier miss after Leinster second row Mike McCarthy was penalised for being offside but Hogg was again unable to convert the opportunity from 45m out.
Leinster suffered a double blow in the last 5 mins of the half. Firstly Leinster captain Shane Jennings appeared to suffer a bad wrist injury at a ruck close to the line. Judging by the grimace on his face as he was replaced by Dominic Ryan, it could be a significant injury. The second blow was the concession of a try right on half time. Glasgow, having kicked for the corner, attempted to maul their way over the line but the Leinster pack managed to hold firm. Ruaraidh Jackson and Alex Dunbar made 2 significant carries and on the next phase of play, Glasgow open side Chris Fusaro made his way around Mike Ross and through Rob Kearney to score a deserved try. Hogg made no mistake with the straightforward conversion. 7-3 Glasgow after 40 mins.
Leinster started the 2nd half well enough but it was Glasgow who had the opportunity for the first points of the 2nd half after 52 mins. Leinster loose head Jack McGrath was penalised for driving in on the angle but Glasgow centre Mark Bennett was just short from 50m out.
Leinster created the opportunity to narrow the gap when Rob Kearney collected a high box kick and drove on to the halfway line. The ensuing quick rucks meant that the Glasgow defence were unable to get themselves back into an onside position. Replacement tight head Eddie Kalman was the guilty party. Gopperth made him pay by nailing the 3 pts bringing the gap down to 1 point. 7-6 Glasgow after 60 mins.
Glasgow responded well and was starting to up the ante in the tight exchanges with substitute flanker Josh Strauss making a big impact in his carries. Glasgow was held up over the line but the Glasgow pack continued to crank up the pressure near the Leinster line. The pressure forced Leinster centre Gordon D’Arcy to concede the penalty by being caught offside whilst trying to make the tackle after 70 minutes. Glasgow’s woes from the tee continued however as Jackson became the 3rd home side player of the evening to miss a kick at goal.
Glasgow was not to be denied the try that their 2nd half performance deserved however. In the 74th minute Glasgow had a lineout on the Leinster 5m line and, as they had done in the first half, attempted to maul their way over. The Leinster pack managed to hold firm but substitute prop Yanuyanutawa managed to find enough space to evade the fringe cover and cross over. Jackson missed the touchline conversion. 12-6 Glasgow after 76 mins.
Leinster would in fact have one final chance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat after Jackson conceded a penalty for interfering with substitute scrum half Eoin Reddan. Gopperth kicked the ball towards the corner but Devin Toner failed to gather the lineout with the ball, and indeed Leinster’s chances of winning the game, slipping through his fingers. 12-6 Glasgow after 80 mins.
The fact is that Glasgow was the better side for the vast majority of the game. They ran the ball with greater depth and speed and, as a result, always seemed the more likely to score tries. It was a frustrating performance from the visitors who just didn’t seem to click. In spite of the performance though, a losing bonus point away to Glasgow is nothing to be sniffed at.