Leinster v Glasgow Warriors The Semi Cometh

First topic message reminder :

Well boys, here we are at the mid-way point on the rope bridge: who will tumble into the crocodile infested waters and who will march on to Ulster?
Thereplacements bench vs Connacht pretty much tells us who will deffo start, so
1. Grant (British and Irish front row of the season)
2.WeePee ( although I can't put a cigarette paper between him and Hall on form)
3. Angela ( pit mair weight oan that bar!)
4.Swinson (unbelievably consistent this season)
5. Kellock ( if paternity leave is over, Ryder played very well v Connacht but we wont go to a Dublin semi without our spiritual leader)
6. Bluto
7. Barclay
8. Wilson ( the back row picks itself, Harley is very unfortunate but will be on the bench)
9. Matawaloo (furra linee)
10. Ruaridh ( he is the only 10, with Horne and Hogg as cover)
11. DTH
12.
13.
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

The eagle-eyed amongst you will have noticed no centres. I think this is where Toonie will earn his corn, or not.
Horne-Schlong were good on Friday. Schlong was very good going forward, but can he defend against the angles BOD will conjure up?
Morrison- Dunbar would be solid defensively and if Dunbar got the ball could be effective going forward.
Morrison-Messiah would certainly carry some clout.
Dunbar-Horne would be the most attack minded.
Then again 10-12-13 could be Horne-Dunbar-Messiah defending from out to in and forcing Madigan back into the loving embrace of Barclay.
I know games are won or lost in the pack, but if Toonie picks the right centre combination we will win convincingly as opposed to throwing away a winning position earlier in the season.
How many sleeps till the match?

VinceWLB wrote:For me the yellow card wasn't a yellow, .

Maybe - but neither was it outrageous. leinster were making forward progress - it was a good attacking opportunity and Matawalo made no effort to get back on side / out of the way. Not a clear cut yellow but not outrageous to give one.

I don't think that much is to be gained by blaming the ref.

If this game demonstrated anything, it's how the little things are the difference between winning and losing and if Toonie is doing his job he'll be pointing out that it was in our hands but we made too many mistakes.

Ryan Grant shouldn't have tried to run through Kearney when he was over the line - that was an almighty mistake when he'd already done the hard work and literally cost 7 points, we forced offloads and lost possession when we should have been patient and recycled, Niko's yellow was silly by his standards and put unnecessary pressure on the team and missing any goalkicks will always come back to haunt you, difficult though they were.

Leinster absorbed the pressure and rode their luck. Sounds a bit like a certain international that happened this year between Irishmen and Scotsmen except with a different result.

But it bodes well for Glasgow next year, given that we've practically re-signed the same team.

Maybe we can say experience won it for Leinster, but it's hard to take as for me Glasgow were the superior side (as was the case a month ago at the rds again...)

Yeah Ryan Grant clearly should have scored, he had the choice of avoiding Kearney for a given try.

Also thought Barclay was below par, Jennings outplayed him imo.

Was Welsh injured? scrum went worse with Low.
Not sure i would have taken off DTH VDM, he is such a great player who could have made a difference in the end.

Oh I agree its hard to take and Glasgow could and arguably should have won. They will be back - stronger and hungrier next year. They are starting to look like a real team and without a crap start to next season could do better.

They play such good rugby I may have to resort to supporting Glasgow - the city of my childhood rather than Edinburgh where I live now

TJ wrote:Oh I agree its hard to take and Glasgow could and arguably should have won. They will be back - stronger and hungrier next year. They are starting to look like a real team and without a crap start to next season could do better.

They play such good rugby I may have to resort to supporting Glasgow - the city of my childhood rather than Edinburgh where I live now

He is one of us now...

He'll never buy a bar of soap again

Good point - maybe its a step too far.

Gutted to see Glasgow lose but winning away at Leinster is always going to be a mammoth task. It's speaks volumes for the progress the team has made that we were not hoping but expecting a win and I was really proud of the way they played and went all out for it. Leinsters defence and discipline were fantastic. I thought Wilson really stood up last night especially after we lost Strauss and Lamont has played really well since he started attacking the gaps again. Dunbar and Bennett are a partnership that could really work together which makes me wonder on the potential of a Scott Dunbar Bennett axis at 10-13 for Scotland in the future.

I also though Horne was the right choice over Jackson and he played well but another game changing moment for me was the stupid penalty he gave away in front of the ref for blocking which gifted them 3 points at a key time and when we were being given nothing in penalties in return. Fair play to Leinster but we really need to target the heiniken cup next year and look to full the void left by Barclay going. A void that is in no way filled by Vernons return.

TJ wrote:Good point - maybe its a step too far.

Although if you come over to the Dark (Blue) Side, to be fair you'll never spend a penny on tweed, Hackett chinos, Pimms, received pronounciation, brogues, bestiality or those posh girls from the law school again either.

George Carlin wrote:

TJ wrote:Good point - maybe its a step too far.

Although if you come over to the Dark (Blue) Side, to be fair you'll never spend a penny on tweed, Hackett chinos, Pimms, received pronounciation, brogues, bestiality or those posh girls from the law school again either.

George Carlin wrote:

Leinster absorbed the pressure and rode their luck. Sounds a bit like a certain international that happened this year between Irishmen and Scotsmen except with a different result.

I was thinking the same analogy as I read the 'how did we lose that with our stats?' post.

Another factor needs to be considered too though.
From this date back to 19th of April, Glasgow have had three games with a space of 14 days and 8 days between those games.
In the same period, Leinster have had four games, with spaces of 6, 6 and 8 days between their games.
They now have an extra game next week before meeting Ulster who will have had 15 days recuperation.

It's no small feat to try to keep going in two competitions and being hit by a serious Glasgow blunderbuss along the way!!! as you're still trying to save something for two more games. These Leinster guys are earning their wages now!

jimbopip wrote:Gibson, Pete & all other Leinsterposters; good luck in the final. You won and at the end your team were bloody but unbowed, just. But fair do's you stuck it out and won.
Schiz, As, Fes, GC et al it has been one hell of a ride
I never ever lose track of the score but I did tonight and actually thought we had taken the lead. I think that was a reflection of the fact that we were playing outstanding rugby and Leinster were playing at being John Wayne in The Alamo. Utterly superb performance by Glasgow and you just felt that if the defence had broken just once more than the floodgates would have opened. If Toonie can keep moving forward then we will have many more performances like this next season. From 1 to 23 I am proud of all of them tonight.

Glasgow

Fair play to you guys, I thought we'd have this game by the scruff of the neck but realistically you dominated us for longer than we dominated you, turned us over when we had you in the corner from a scrum and a lineout on your 5m line.

Really amazing character building stuff, gutted to see such an attack minded team go out, this is the way the game should be played and with lads like Niko and Hogg you have got guys who can really play like actually play rugby not the Owen Farrell sort of play.

We'll be seeing ya next year for what looks like it is going to turn in to a beautiful, bloody but respectful rivalry.

Utter respect for your fans and team.

SecretFly wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

Leinster absorbed the pressure and rode their luck. Sounds a bit like a certain international that happened this year between Irishmen and Scotsmen except with a different result.

I was thinking the same analogy as I read the 'how did we lose that with our stats?' post.

Another factor needs to be considered too though.
From this date back to 19th of April, Glasgow have had three games with a space of 14 days and 8 days between those games.
In the same period, Leinster have had four games, with spaces of 6, 6 and 8 days between their games.
They now have an extra game next week before meeting Ulster who will have had 15 days recuperation.

It's no small feat to try to keep going in two competitions and being hit by a serious Glasgow blunderbuss along the way!!! as you're still trying to save something for two more games. These Leinster guys are earning their wages now!

+1

Yeah we have had it tough in the last 3 weeks and the next two will be hard too.

BOD had back spasms
Darcy had a calf strain I think
Jenno looked ok going off
Healy went down more times than I can remember, one point our section of the crowd were chanting him to get up, he did then won the turnover on our 22, such man-love for the guy
Strauss went off at halftime, no idea why?
Leo took a big hit for Jaimie's try and was down for a while, he played til the end though
McFadden and Sexton both had niggles at one point or another too

I thought it was a cracking game. Every bit as good as a Heineken Cup knockout game.

Delighted for the Rabo league.

I still can't believe Glasgow do not have have a sponsor.

A quality backline led marshalled by Matawalu.

Have they made any signings for next year. I know Barclay is leaving.

Stag-

As resident ref, two questions:

1) If Hogg had got that kick and it was a draw would it have gone to extra time, a replay or tries scored?

2) Healsip grounded the ball with his forearm, does that count as "being in control of the ball"?

Great game. Glasgow lost, but so tight. I would have no complaints if it went the other way.

I knew they were a great team, but I did not think they would have enough for us in knockout mode. They did, and we were lucky enough to come out on the right side.

The ref missed a lot for both sides. I thought we had your scrum for example but you kept dropping it and getting away with it. Haven't seen the game on telly yet though.

red_stag wrote:

I still can't believe Glasgow do not have have a sponsor.

I keep hearing people say this and maybe they don't have a major sponsor... but don't they have PV Solar UK written across their backs? Maybe that isn't a big deal but it's something that company must have to pay something for.

I think we're gonna struggle to beat Ulster,these weekly high intensity games are very hard going and Schmidt might need to rotate the team a bit next week.

It depends on which trophy the management and players want more but if it was up to me I'd trust a few of our squad players to do the job against Stade and save the big guns for Ulster.We've lost too many league finals now,it's the one I'd prefer to win.

GLove39 wrote:One thing I've been wondering, saw it mentioned somewhere on here. Is it true that Leinster don't have an actual dedicated defence coach? And if so how can that be true????

Kurt McQuilkin retired the same time Cheika left,Schmidt decided to bring in Feek as a scrum coach and Schmidt would do both defense and attack.We had an excellent defensive system in place but this season it has definitely been creaking and I hope we do some work on it as it's an area we can make some real improvements.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:I think we're gonna struggle to beat Ulster,these weekly high intensity games are very hard going and Schmidt might need to rotate the team a bit next week.

It depends on which trophy the management and players want more but if it was up to me I'd trust a few of our squad players to do the job against Stade and save the big guns for Ulster.We've lost too many league finals now,it's the one I'd prefer to win.

I don't think we'll have a choice.
I think next week we'll need a bit of rotation.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Stag-

As resident ref, two questions:

1) If Hogg had got that kick and it was a draw would it have gone to extra time, a replay or tries scored?

2) Healsip grounded the ball with his forearm, does that count as "being in control of the ball"?

1) Completely depends on the competition rules. For example Heineken Cup Tigers v Cardiff went to penalties. Same year the AIL Final was decided on first try scored. Some competitions are actually decided on toss of a coin if everything is compltely level rather than penalties.

2) You do not have to be "in control of the ball" or indeed in possession to score a try. A myth. You merely have to ground the ball.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:I think we're gonna struggle to beat Ulster,these weekly high intensity games are very hard going and Schmidt might need to rotate the team a bit next week.

It depends on which trophy the management and players want more but if it was up to me I'd trust a few of our squad players to do the job against Stade and save the big guns for Ulster.We've lost too many league finals now,it's the one I'd prefer to win.

I'd agree. Hate the idea of them losing anything now after the efforts to drag themselves back into this season - but the slog towards that end of season is showing and it's about time Leinster showed that Pro12 is important in its own right. So, it would be preferable to keep the best deck of cards manageable for the Ulster game.

Really impressed with the efforts to date though, despite the beginning of the season - I suspect players and Schmidt still won't be in a mood for saying Either/Or on what's left.

The grounding looked good to me - he had it tucked under his arm and there was never a gap between body and ball

SecretFly wrote:

red_stag wrote:

I still can't believe Glasgow do not have have a sponsor.

I keep hearing people say this and maybe they don't have a major sponsor... but don't they have PV Solar UK written across their backs? Maybe that isn't a big deal but it's something that company must have to pay something for.

Posted this on another thread but maybe worth a re-post:

Tthe lack of a main Glasgow shirt sponsor is more bad luck than anything else and there's a nice story behind it. For the past 3 seasons, the Warriors were sponsored by a local firm called Response, who provide privately contracted call service centres.

Last August, they announced that they unexpectedly lost a very high value contract with Sky which meant that they were now suddenly unable to renew their main sponsorship deal. It was clear that they were quite embarrassed by the whole affair.

The chat on the street was that financially this was not actually a bad thing from Glasgow as apparently the Response contract was not worth a significant amount to the club after being negotiated on the back of Sir David Murray’s agreement to sponsor the Scottish national team in 2007. He stepped in to help his former employee Gordon McKie, the then SRU chief executive, when The Famous Grouse walked away and McKie’s efforts to find a Scotland jersey sponsor proved fruitless.

This meant that Murray agreed to sponsor Scotland on the basis that the Warriors fronted up one of Murray's own young companies, Response. The national deal was worth a lot of folding, Glasgow's apparently not as the whole thing was basically done as a favour.

However, that left Glasgow without a shirt sponsor just before the start of the season and if you believe reports at the time, whilst a lot of main sponsors were interested, Nathan Bomrys (Glasgow CEO) priced the minimum buy-in too high for a rush job to be done.

When Macron produces the new Scotland, Edinburgh and Glasgow shirts this summer, I'm fairly sure there will be some kind of sponsor there. As long as it's not Tampax, Viagra or Ann Summers, I don't really mind too much.

The game showed that Bennett still has along way to go.

He was on hand to score his try but surely he could have put the ball down nearer the posts for an easier kick?

Also showed again just how dirty a player cian healey is. Won't be long til he bites someone's ear off!

red_stag wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Stag-

As resident ref, two questions:

1) If Hogg had got that kick and it was a draw would it have gone to extra time, a replay or tries scored?

2) Healsip grounded the ball with his forearm, does that count as "being in control of the ball"?

1) Completely depends on the competition rules. For example Heineken Cup Tigers v Cardiff went to penalties. Same year the AIL Final was decided on first try scored. Some competitions are actually decided on toss of a coin if everything is compltely level rather than penalties.

2) You do not have to be "in control of the ball" or indeed in possession to score a try. A myth. You merely have to ground the ball.

So i could sit on the ball and that would count as a try????

tigertattie wrote:The game showed that Bennett still has along way to go.

He was on hand to score his try but surely he could have put the ball down nearer the posts for an easier kick?

Also showed again just how dirty a player cian healey is. Won't be long til he bites someone's ear off

?????

Explain.

So next year Glasgow are looking at a starting team of:

1. Grant
2. MacArthur
3. Cusack
4. Swinson
5. Kellock
6. Strauss
7. Fusaro
8. Wilson
9. Matawalu
10. Weir
11. VDM
12. Dunbar
13. Bennett
14. Maitland
15. Hogg

and a second team of:

1. Low
2. Hall
3. Welsh
4. Gray
5. Ryder
6. Harley
7. Eddie
8. Vernon
9. Cusiter
10. Jackson
11. McGuigan
12. Horne
13. Lamont
14. Seymour
15. Murchie

I think a new winger, back up Full-back and a back-row would be good as well as a new prop

Numbers - don't you think we need a proper 10 to help bring Weir on?
Or are we going to persist with Rhubarb dialling in his performances every other game?

We need another openside too, don't we? Jedi and Vernon the gangling funster are surely not adequate Fozzy replacements?

Didn't Les Kiss work with the Leinster defence on a part time basis at one point? I think it was in Schmidt's first season.

If only Gray had remained with Glasgow they might be even better. Why on earth did he go to Sale?

red_stag wrote:
2) You do not have to be "in control of the ball" or indeed in possession to score a try. A myth. You merely have to ground the ball.

If you lose control of the ball and it goes forward then its a knock on, no try. Heaslip has had the ball stripped out and grounds it with his elbow as it rolls down his forearm. It's marginal but I've seen those not given.

there was never any daylight between body / arm / ball so no knock on - only just tho.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

red_stag wrote:

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:Stag-

As resident ref, two questions:

1) If Hogg had got that kick and it was a draw would it have gone to extra time, a replay or tries scored?

2) Healsip grounded the ball with his forearm, does that count as "being in control of the ball"?

1) Completely depends on the competition rules. For example Heineken Cup Tigers v Cardiff went to penalties. Same year the AIL Final was decided on first try scored. Some competitions are actually decided on toss of a coin if everything is compltely level rather than penalties.

2) You do not have to be "in control of the ball" or indeed in possession to score a try. A myth. You merely have to ground the ball.

So i could sit on the ball and that would count as a try????

No it has to be a part of your body from waist to neck inclusive. So you can press your nipples down on the ball and it counts as a try. Equally you can press down with your baby finger without being in possession.

Feckless Rogue wrote:
If only Gray had remained with Glasgow they might be even better. Why on earth did he go to Sale?

Disagree, Tim Swinson his replacement has been outstanding and his workrate is arguably higher than Gray, i also think Swinson adds more grunt than Gray.

I don't like being on Gray's case...but I'd agree, I don't think Glasgow need Gray. They're diamond hard, tough, fast and elusive enough.
Not too many weak spots at all, damn them!

TJ wrote:there was never any daylight between body / arm / ball so no knock on - only just tho.

I agree but it was a tight one, like I say I've seen them not given.

stats from the game make for interesting reading. Although as Scott Johnson says,"Statistics, just like a bikini, show a lot but not the whole thing..."

Leinster -------- Glasgow

15 Kicks from hand 10
97 Passes 167
83 Runs 146
319 Metres run with ball 614

4 Clean breaks 9
11 Defenders beaten 25
7 Offloads 27

149/25 Tackles 92/11
86.0% Tackling success 89.0%

7 Penalties conceded 14

GLove39 wrote:stats from the game make for interesting reading. Although as Scott Johnson says,"Statistics, just like a bikini, show a lot but not the whole thing..."

Leinster -------- Glasgow

15 Kicks from hand 10
97 Passes 167
83 Runs 146
319 Metres run with ball 614

4 Clean breaks 9
11 Defenders beaten 25
7 Offloads 27

149/25 Tackles 92/11
86.0% Tackling success 89.0%

7 Penalties conceded 14

Do those stats say Glasgow played much better than Leinster? Coz if they do, I agree. I think we all do. I mean are any of us disputing what our eyes saw?

GLove39 wrote:stats from the game make for interesting reading. Although as Scott Johnson says,"Statistics, just like a bikini, show a lot but not the whole thing..."

Leinster -------- Glasgow

15 Kicks from hand 10
97 Passes 167
83 Runs 146
319 Metres run with ball 614

4 Clean breaks 9
11 Defenders beaten 25
7 Offloads 27

149/25 Tackles 92/11
86.0% Tackling success 89.0%

7 Penalties conceded 14

Reminds me of Scotland in the 6n 2012.

Love the way Glasgow play though, and yesterday just fell victim to the class of Leinster, and the home advantage definitely showed towards the end. Glasgow lack a top class kicker, but then would they be able to play how they do if they knew that any penas was a guaranteed 3 points? Hogg isn't bad mind you, considering he's only taken something like 5 place kicks as a pro rugby player. Think Bennett could have made that missed conversion easier though by moving in closer to the posts, and I reckon there were a number of moments that could have turned the match in Glasgow's favour. Biggest ones were the yellow for Niko (not outrageous but maybe a bit harsh. Took an instant disliking to Boss for that cynicism and for holding onto Dunbar under the ref's nose minutes earlier with nothing done), Big Al being an Eejit pushing Toner from the restart, from which the resulting penas led to Heaslip's try, and perhaps Grant being held up - could he have gone in lower to ground it rather than try and go over the top of Kearney? Who knows. Glasgow definitely lacked composure towards the end, but my god it was thrilling to watch!

Well done to Leinster, they more than played their part and I wish them luck in the final.

Wish the Beeb could do more to get in the viewers though - that was a great advert for the Pro12 and rugby in general. Even a little blurb on BBC 1/2 before it starts, or adverts for the Alba sports provision might bring in some undecided viewers. It's surely better than The Voice! I don't think many people realise it is on - I certainly always used to skip straight past Alba and S4C.

Red button option for English commentary would nice. Could have just used the radio Scotland boys. Just sync sound and picture.

George Carlin wrote:

TJ wrote:Good point - maybe its a step too far.

Although if you come over to the Dark (Blue) Side, to be fair you'll never spend a penny on tweed, Hackett chinos, Pimms, received pronounciation, brogues, bestiality or those posh girls from the law school again either.

You have the makings of a good night in there.

jimbopip wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

TJ wrote:Good point - maybe its a step too far.

Although if you come over to the Dark (Blue) Side, to be fair you'll never spend a penny on tweed, Hackett chinos, Pimms, received pronounciation, brogues, bestiality or those posh girls from the law school again either.

You have the makings of a good night in there.

Unless you ara weegie

highland_scot wrote:

GLove39 wrote:stats from the game make for interesting reading. Although as Scott Johnson says,"Statistics, just like a bikini, show a lot but not the whole thing..."

Leinster -------- Glasgow

15 Kicks from hand 10
97 Passes 167
83 Runs 146
319 Metres run with ball 614

4 Clean breaks 9
11 Defenders beaten 25
7 Offloads 27

149/25 Tackles 92/11
86.0% Tackling success 89.0%

7 Penalties conceded 14

Reminds me of Scotland in the 6n 2012.

Love the way Glasgow play though, and yesterday just fell victim to the class of Leinster, and the home advantage definitely showed towards the end. Glasgow lack a top class kicker, but then would they be able to play how they do if they knew that any penas was a guaranteed 3 points? Hogg isn't bad mind you, considering he's only taken something like 5 place kicks as a pro rugby player. Think Bennett could have made that missed conversion easier though by moving in closer to the posts, and I reckon there were a number of moments that could have turned the match in Glasgow's favour. Biggest ones were the yellow for Niko (not outrageous but maybe a bit harsh. Took an instant disliking to Boss for that cynicism and for holding onto Dunbar under the ref's nose minutes earlier with nothing done), Big Al being an Eejit pushing Toner from the restart, from which the resulting penas led to Heaslip's try, and perhaps Grant being held up - could he have gone in lower to ground it rather than try and go over the top of Kearney? Who knows. Glasgow definitely lacked composure towards the end, but my god it was thrilling to watch!

Well done to Leinster, they more than played their part and I wish them luck in the final.

Wish the Beeb could do more to get in the viewers though - that was a great advert for the Pro12 and rugby in general. Even a little blurb on BBC 1/2 before it starts, or adverts for the Alba sports provision might bring in some undecided viewers. It's surely better than The Voice! I don't think many people realise it is on - I certainly always used to skip straight past Alba and S4C.

It's a game of inches though, we had our chances as much as you did.
We missed a few kicks. Conway was nearly in for a try but for a forward pass, we had a scrum on your 5m line where we got penalised when we maybe shouldn't have, we gave away a great opportunity when we overthrew a lineout inside your 22. Remember the kick that nearly stood up for Nacewa to walk in in the corner? We had our chances too, it was not a one-sided game so please stop making it out that way.

I think you guys had more time in dominance than we did but we have a winning culture if you get my drift? We (over time) have made ourselves very hard to beat, we have won more games than just last night that we maybe didn't deserve to, be under no illusion, your performance last night was in no way unique in that regard.

It is something that takes years to develop, Munster used to have it, Clermont have it, the Kiwi's have it, Leicester Tigers have it to an extent, Argentina are very close to having it IMO. It is an attribute in itself I think.

I can see Glasgow developing this over the next few years, coupled to the outstanding running game they have, it would make them very, very scary.

Watched the highlights earlier and Glasgow gave away some very soft and stupid penalties - 6 points that lost them the game.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:

highland_scot wrote:

GLove39 wrote:stats from the game make for interesting reading. Although as Scott Johnson says,"Statistics, just like a bikini, show a lot but not the whole thing..."

Leinster -------- Glasgow

15 Kicks from hand 10
97 Passes 167
83 Runs 146
319 Metres run with ball 614

4 Clean breaks 9
11 Defenders beaten 25
7 Offloads 27

149/25 Tackles 92/11
86.0% Tackling success 89.0%

7 Penalties conceded 14

Reminds me of Scotland in the 6n 2012.

Love the way Glasgow play though, and yesterday just fell victim to the class of Leinster, and the home advantage definitely showed towards the end. Glasgow lack a top class kicker, but then would they be able to play how they do if they knew that any penas was a guaranteed 3 points? Hogg isn't bad mind you, considering he's only taken something like 5 place kicks as a pro rugby player. Think Bennett could have made that missed conversion easier though by moving in closer to the posts, and I reckon there were a number of moments that could have turned the match in Glasgow's favour. Biggest ones were the yellow for Niko (not outrageous but maybe a bit harsh. Took an instant disliking to Boss for that cynicism and for holding onto Dunbar under the ref's nose minutes earlier with nothing done), Big Al being an Eejit pushing Toner from the restart, from which the resulting penas led to Heaslip's try, and perhaps Grant being held up - could he have gone in lower to ground it rather than try and go over the top of Kearney? Who knows. Glasgow definitely lacked composure towards the end, but my god it was thrilling to watch!

Well done to Leinster, they more than played their part and I wish them luck in the final.

Wish the Beeb could do more to get in the viewers though - that was a great advert for the Pro12 and rugby in general. Even a little blurb on BBC 1/2 before it starts, or adverts for the Alba sports provision might bring in some undecided viewers. It's surely better than The Voice! I don't think many people realise it is on - I certainly always used to skip straight past Alba and S4C.

It's a game of inches though, we had our chances as much as you did.
We missed a few kicks. Conway was nearly in for a try but for a forward pass, we had a scrum on your 5m line where we got penalised when we maybe shouldn't have, we gave away a great opportunity when we overthrew a lineout inside your 22. Remember the kick that nearly stood up for Nacewa to walk in in the corner? We had our chances too, it was not a one-sided game so please stop making it out that way.

I think you guys had more time in dominance than we did but we have a winning culture if you get my drift? We (over time) have made ourselves very hard to beat, we have won more games than just last night that we maybe didn't deserve to, be under no illusion, your performance last night was in no way unique in that regard.

It is something that takes years to develop, Munster used to have it, Clermont have it, the Kiwi's have it, Leicester Tigers have it to an extent, Argentina are very close to having it IMO. It is an attribute in itself I think.

I can see Glasgow developing this over the next few years, coupled to the outstanding running game they have, it would make them very, very scary.

+1 we completed dominated the second half until the ref gave that penalty on that scrum on the 5m line. If we scored from that we would have killed off the game imo.

Well played Leinster, a fantastic game to watch. A little more composure and Glasgow might have snuck it, but in the end the greater experience of the Irish boys told in the end.

I think the Glasgow team will have learnt a lot from this, we may look back on this point next year and realise that this was a turning point for this Glasgow team - they need to develop a harder edge and a be a little more street wise, this might be the defeat that spurs them to achieve that.

Just out of interest, I noticed that the young Glasgow 10, Finn Russell, who is out in NZ playing club rugby, won the Man of the Match award for his latest game, in a team containing the Crusaders pair of Jordan Taufua and Dominic Bird. He seems to be going well out there generally.

jimbopip wrote:

George Carlin wrote:

TJ wrote:Good point - maybe its a step too far.

Although if you come over to the Dark (Blue) Side, to be fair you'll never spend a penny on tweed, Hackett chinos, Pimms, received pronounciation, brogues, bestiality or those posh girls from the law school again either.

You have the makings of a good night in there.

No smileys required. That's was superb.

George Carlin wrote:

TJ wrote:Good point - maybe its a step too far.

Although if you come over to the Dark (Blue) Side, to be fair you'll never spend a penny on tweed, Hackett chinos, Pimms, received pronounciation, brogues, bestiality or those posh girls from the law school again either.

You should never have to pay for bestiality.