Leinster 19-15 Glasgow: Warrior chief’s sad farewell

It WAS a brave effort, with Glasgow outscoring Leinster by two tries to one, but Sean Lineen’s men were not quite good enough to beat the league leaders on their home turf in the RaboDirect Pro12 play-off semi-final.

Leinster were a little too strong, organised and smart for the visitors and while the intensity was something that Leinster are used to, some of the Glasgow players looked out on their feet inside the first half.

It was the end of an era for Glasgow who were playing for Lineen for the last time and holding Leinster to just one try throughout the 80 minutes is testament to the grit and determination of this squad. Their departing coach, who will be replaced next season by Gregor Townsend, can hold his head high but on an evening when they would need to approach perfection too many of his key players were off colour, including Duncan Weir. Had the stand-off kicked either of his two penalties early in the second half it could have been a very different game, as the coach conceded.

“There were a couple of crucial periods out there,” said Lineen, who has been given a new talent-hunting and coaching role with the Scottish Rugby Union. “In the second half at 9-3 we hit them hard and got nothing for it. They give nothing away. The defensive effort on our line when we were down to 14 (players) was outstanding but you can’t keep soaking up the pressure.

“We got two late tries but with all the substitutes on I think they relaxed a little bit. The guys in the dressing room are disappointed we didn’t do ourselves justice in the first half. They had a lot more momentum than us and they kept the ball for a lot longer. I’m proud of the boys but we need to make the next step.”

When asked about his own feelings about leaving the club he has coached for the last nine years Lineen was philosophical. “I’m lucky I’ll still be employed in rugby. For me the game isn’t a job, it’s a passion.”

There wasn’t much to choose between the two teams but Leinster have been here before and are far more comfortable when it comes to the business end of the season. Glasgow were guilty throughout of trying to force the game. They had precious little ball and what little possession they did win they gave up too early and too easily. Just to emphasise the point Freddie Aramburu twice kicked away perfectly good possession early in the second half when Glasgow just needed to run through the phases and let the pressure build.

The set piece wobbled when Glasgow needed it rock solid, with three lineouts lost to wayward throws, and one scrum was rattled backwards just after Weir missed the second of his two penalties.

In contrast Leinster looked comfortable on the ball, running through the phases and stretching Glasgow from one side of the field to the other. Glasgow’s defence was good but then again it had to be. Mike Cusak stopped Mike Ross in his tracks. Chris Cusiter did well to win a penalty after hooker Richardt Strauss came close to scoring in the first half.

Leinster had problems of their own. They lost both their starting centres, Gordon D’Arcy helped off the field in the first half and Eoin O’Malley following him after the break, and scrum-half Eoin Reddan fired two kicks straight into touch. But the longer the match progressed the tighter Leinster exerted their grip and they had Glasgow on the rack just before half time with Alex Dunbar in the sin bin.

Twice the referee indicated a penalty and twice Leinster opted for a scrum but the Glasgow eight were in no mood to give ground and when Leinster eventually moved the ball wide first Aramburu and then DTH Van Der Merwe came within a fingernail of intercepting.

Eventually Weir cleared his lines but the little stand-off was disappointing, especially immediately before the break. He conceded another penalty for Johnny Sexton who gave his team a 9-3 lead and Weir then took on a Hail Mary drop goal attempt just when Glasgow needed to build some pressure. Glasgow then squandered their best chance of the game to date when a Jamie Heaslip mistake gave the visitors possession deep inside the Leinster territory only for Weir to pass the ball directly to a blue shirt.

Glasgow enjoyed their best period early in the second half simply because they ran through the phases, although Weir missed two penalties in as many minutes. He would normally kick the second one with his eyes closed. Sexton then had the decency to do the exact same, fluffing a simple penalty from in front of the posts.

As long as the score remained within a converted try Leinster could not feel confident but Glasgow’s discipline let them down and Sexton eventually extended his team’s lead to nine points and the home team, breathing a sigh of relief, then scored the first try to put this match beyond doubt at 19-3. Isa Nacewa put Dave Kearney into the right-hand corner despite heroic tackling and Sexton slotted the touchline conversion. Leinster thought they had scored a second but Andrew Conway was approximately five yards offside when he collected a cross-field kick and Glasgow had the final word.

Dougie Hall and Stuart Hogg both scored late touchdowns, thanks to Henry Prygos’ pass and Ruaridh Jackson’s grubber, which ensured that the score board was a little closer than the match had been.

Scorers: Leinster: Try: Kearney. Cons: Sexton. Pens: Sexton 4. Glasgow: Tries: Hall, Hogg. Con: Jackson. Pen: Weir.

Leinster: Nacewa; McFadden, O’Malley, D’Arcy, D Kearney; J Sexton, Reddan; Healy, Strauss, Ross, Thorn, Toner, O’Brien, Jennings, Heaslip.

Glasgow: Hogg; Aramburu, Dunbar, Morrison, van der Merwe; Weir, Cusiter; R Grant, MacArthur, Cusack, Gray, Kellock, Harley, Fusaro, Barclay.

Referee: G Clancy (IRFU). Attendance: 15,113.