Leo Cullen hails 'clinical' Glasgow Warriors as Leinster suffer fifth loss of the season
FIFTH LOSS: Glasgow Warriors' Ollie Smith celebrates scoring a try with team mates. Pic: ©INPHO/Craig Watson.
Leo Cullen’s Leinster came unstuck in a top four clash on Saturday night as the reigning BKT United Rugby Championship holders fell to a comprehensive 38-17 loss to Glasgow Warriors in Scotstoun.
A four try flurry in just eleven minutes of action proved to be too much for the Irish province who fell to their second loss on the bounce, and fifth of the season so far.
After a frantic but inefficient opening quarter, Leinster struck first, albeit against the run of play as All Black Rieko Ioane intercepted a careless pop pass, before releasing JJ Kenny down the right-hand touchline to race clear in a coast-to-coast score.
From there it was all Glasgow, with Leinster losing both Brian Deeny and Rónan Kelleher to the bin and the home side made them pay.
First Macenzzie Duncan sliced through the defence from close range, then hooker Gregor Hiddleston dotted down from the back of an impressive rolling maul, which started about 15 metres from the Leinster line.
George Horne made it three tries in eight minutes as centres Stafford McDowall and Johnny Ventisei carved open Leinster from deep inside their own half. Then three became four when Kyle Rowe produced a try of individual excellence right before half time.
The speedy winger got around the outside of Jimmy O’Brien, sent a grubber kick past Sam Prendergast, then stepped inside JJ Kenny for the bonus point score.
Hugo Keenan pulled one back on the stroke of the break, but Leo Cullen’s squad men faced a heavy deficit to overturn as they headed for the sheds.
They were twice held up over the line early in the second period before Ollie Smith put the game beyond doubt with a slippery finish twelve minutes from time.
Ciarán Frawley and George Horne traded tries late on, but it was too little too late as Leinster left for home with nothing to show for their efforts.
Speaking after the game, head coach Leo Cullen heaped praise on Glasgow, but felt his side were left to rue the costly period down to 13 men.
“We just weren't clinical enough and if we get a score at that stage (after half time), you get the game back to one score game”, Cullen told Premier Sports.
“We just didn't execute unfortunately during that period. I thought they were very clinical in terms of taking opportunities themselves.” Leinster spent eight minutes down two men, and Cullen knows that it was a snapshot of the modern game that they were put to the sword in this period.
“Across the board, particularly when you come away from home, you need to be squeaky clean in terms of your discipline”, he added.
“I wouldn't really point to the three yellow cards. There's probably a few other bits within that that we can definitely be better at.” Leinster host Scarlets next week before turning attention to their Investec Champions Cup quest, as they look to finally add that fifth star to the jersey.
J McKay; K Rowe, J Ventisei (A Hastings, 61), S McDowall - captain, O Smith (J Oliver, 71); D Lancaster, G Horne; P Schickerling (R Sutherland, 54), G Hiddleston (S Stephen, 71), F Richardson (S Talakai, 45); A Craig, A Samuel (J Oguntibeju, 69); E Ferrie (A Miller, 74), S Vailanu (A Fraser, 45), M Duncan.
H Keenan; JJ Kenny (C Frawley, 52), R Ioane, R Henshaw, J O'Brien; S Prendergast, L McGrath - captain (F Gunne, 66); A Usanov (J Cahir, 7-18 & 63), R Kelleher (J McKee, 63), T Clarkson (R Slimani, 63); RG Snyman (C O'Tighearnaigh, 52’), B Deeny; J Conan, W Connors (S Penny, 52), J Culhane (M Deegan, 61).
Adam Jones (Wales).
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