Glasgow Warriors v Leinster Pro14 Final 25th May 2019

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Glasgow Warriors v Leinster
Pro14 Playoff Final
Celtic Park
Glasgow

25th May 2019
KO 18.30

Live on Premier Sports

Well the last game of the season for the Pro14 and I don't think many people will disagree with the fact that the two best teams in the league are meeting each other in the final.

The Ladyboys from Dublin, who think that winning trophies is their birth right and have a trophy cabinet back home which kind of suggests that they might be right, against the Mighty Glasgow Warriors, who may not get the chance of another home final in a citadel of Glaswegian sport, for a long long time.

History suggests Leinster for another win and the bookies, always good judges of these sorts of things would concur. However Glasgow have been in sparkling form ever since their spanking by Sarries in the Euro quarters. Rather than depress them, it seems to have inspired them and they have gone on quite a run since then, dispatching Ulster, Leinster (in Dublin), Edinburgh and finally dishing out a hammering to Ulster, the like of which no one really saw coming, in their semi final. They are on form, are confident and are playing some sparkling rugby.

Leinster, it is probably fair to say, a bit like Ireland this season, have not quite been firing on all cylinders. They to received a lesson from Sarries in the Euro finals and can no longer claim to be the best in Europe. Still despite that, they are still grinding out the results. Munster threw the kitchen sink at them in the first half of their semi but could not get over the line, Leinster won it comfortably enough in the end, but at the expense of losing Devin Tooner to a bad looking knee injury.

So what is the final going to come down to?

Leinster have the big game mentality and are devilishly hard to score against, but yet this will be their third big game in three weeks and what have they got left in the tank if it becomes another war.

Glasgow have the ability to score tries against anyone and Leinster will have to be at their best defensively to close them down. Glasgow will also have the home advantage and probably a much bigger proportion of the crowd, despite an ill judged attempt to envoke a bit of sectarianism by Leo Cullen.

My feeling is that Glasgow have to start well and get their noses in front. Leinster are at their best when out in front and shutting down a team chasing a lead. If Glasgow can get off to the kind of start they did against Ulster and can maintain it, then the efforts of the past three weeks may start to take their toll. If that does not happen though, the kicking and power game of Leinster will be hard to overcome.

Either way a great game at a great venue beckons!

BigGee wrote:Which stand you in Jim?

We're in the main stand FS8.

The long lonely drive to Noocassel was brightened up by Radio 2 playing a request for "Big Gee who is driving from London to Scotland with his wife."

Wild Thing.

We are in South Stand WS1

Unfortunately it looks like it is going to p1ss down with rain all afternoon

Were aiming to get to ground about 4ish, but might delay that z bit if really wet

I'll drop you a text when we are there

Heading off out for a walk around the botantic gardens now while still dry

Shame about the weather - both teams would have liked a dry track.

Aye the west coast of Scotland is one of the dampest places on earth. Waterproofs all round today it would seem

tigertattie wrote:Aye the west coast of Scotland is one of the dampest places on earth. Waterproofs all round today it would seem

We’re dry enough in Waxys.

'mon Glasgow!

Steyn with some powerful runs early on

This is a hell of a frantic game!

Surprisingly open from Leinster - I expect they'll tighten things up soon.

Sexton having a bit of a mare so far

Big call this - could have gone either way. Brown probably thought 9 had the ball.

Let off for Glasgow!

Glasgow got away with one there, Brown should be in the bin

Massive try for Glasgow!

Only for Leinster to score immediately

Well that was a bit careless

I've never seen Leinster be this sloppy

Oooooo

Hastings had to give that!!

Big let off for Leinster - Glasgow should have scored

Huge hit on VDM

Awful to see Fraser Brown's injury - could be his world cup over

Fingers crossed brown isn’t too badly injured

Classy

Leinster starting to exert control - Glasgow should have taken a couple of their chances, especially when Hastings went himself instead of passing.

Glasgow looking dangerous but they've got to take their chances!

Harley and Gray have had a quiet half - they need to step up

What a nerve jangling first half

Tight but we needed to score at the end, we can't let Leinster get away from us

I think Cummings might be playing his way into Scotland squad, he has been immense

Crazy final! Such a contrast of styles but both sides very physical. I've been impressed with the handling from Glasgow's young guys. Yet unfortunately Harley dropped 2 balls in promising attacks and Brown gave a stupid penalty away (could have been a yellow really) which has hampered Glasgow a bit. Hastings shouldn't have flung that long pass at the end of the second half but I applaud everything else he has done. Very exciting game!

Leinster look like they'll win it if Glasgow can't score soon, they're playing the lower risk rugby but doing it very very well. Cian Healy and Ringrose were standouts for me and Sexton looks to be really getting his team going.

My prediction is Leinster by 15 unfortunately, their defence looks strong enough and its pretty damp out there.

Hope Brown isn't too badly injured. Didn't look good. Should have been carded though. More than a few mistakes in this game but I find it utterly absorbing.

I think kebble needs to come on early to try and shore up the scrum and add some physicality with Brown off

Glasgow need to play the territory’s game s bit more. Chances will be few and far between so they need to be in the right place at the right time to capitalise

Poor from Price - this could be the game

So harsh on Steyn

bsando wrote:So harsh on Steyn

Fair I think - he didn't move quickly enough.

Ultimately Price's pass to no-one killed it for Glasgow

Nigel conned by gamesmanship.

Leinster players lying all over after the tackle and getting away with it. Needs to be parity surely?

Should have been a Glasgow scrum - ref said used and Glasgow got the ball

C'mon Nigel, "use it" they don't. But you give it to them anyway?
Stop being conned.

Feels like the intensity of a football match with the Glasgow crowd

Huge moment there

Glasgow need territory - can't keep playing in their 22 in this weather!

straight red in real time. but not malicious

Not sure about the jump. Seemed innocent but can see a yellow

Night night hoggy

Yellow only. Careless but definitely a yellow.

Yellow probably s fair call - he didn't land on his head

Strange that Hogg didn't even have a HIA - he went straight off

Typical Kearney cheap shot get him off.
Red.
If it had been a Glasgow offender it would have been red.

The TMO is even trying to tell Owens to look at the replay again but Nigel is having none of it

Should have been red

RDW wrote:Strange that Hogg didn't even have a HIA - he went straight off

If you are out unconscious it’s an automatic end of game

Glasgow really need to stop running upright into contact against Leinster

tigertattie wrote:

RDW wrote:Strange that Hogg didn't even have a HIA - he went straight off

If you are out unconscious it’s an automatic end of game

He didn't look unconscious at any point. Maybe I missed it.

Oh Nigel why why why??