Leinster…………..40pts
Glasgow…………… 5pts
Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith believes his players are improving despite another difficult defeat on the road, this time away to URC leaders Leinster at RDS.
Rob Russell scored a hat-trick of tries while Dave Kearney, Michael Milne and John McKee also touched down for the hosts as they made it eight from eight. Sebastian Cancelliere scored Glasgow's try in the second half but they left themselves with too much to do.
“The importance and the pressure is massive. We wanted to win out there – Iwas sincerely convinced that this week we were going to get it right. They were just inaccurate – we lost lineouts that we would usually win. So there were just errors, which is understandable – we hadn't played for the last three weeks,” said Smith.
“But we will gel. And for me the most important thing is we've broadened our depth again. Hopefully in a couple of months we're going to see a group with much more depth.”
It was Glasgow's fourth defeat in a row away from home so far this season and Cancelliere's try was all they could take from this trip. They trailed 21-0 at half-time after a few early tries from Kearney and Russell (two). Ross Byrne was brilliant from the kicking tee and scored all four of his conversions, adding another after Milne scored Leinster's bonus point try in the 55th minute.
In the meantime, Cancelliere dived over in the right corner but there was no chance of an unlikely comeback.
There was still time for Russell to complete his hat-trick before replacement hooker John McKee also touched down in the closing stages.
It wasn't the 76-14 hammering that Glasgow experienced on their most recent visit to Dublin, but another chastening defeat before they go to Parma next weekend.
Scotland hooker Frazer Brown led the tributes for Doddie Weir after he passed following a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease. Brown said: “Doddie was an amazing man. The strength he has shown over the last five years… he's unbelievable, probably the strongest man I have met in my life.
“It's hugely sad news and my thoughts and everyone's thoughts here are for Doddie's family, his children and obviously his wife because it will be a very difficult time for them as well as the rest of the country.”
REFEREE: Marius van der Westhuizen (SA) ATTENDANCE: 14,500
TEAMS
LEINSTER: Osborne 7; Russell 9, Turner 7, Ngatai 7 (H Byrne 40, 6), Kearney 8; R Byrne 8 (Cosgrave 71, 7), McGrath 8 (Foley 60, 6); E Byrne 7 (Milne 51, 7), Kelleher 6 (McKee 66, 7), Clarkson 6 (Abdaladze 51, 6); Molony 8, McCarthy 7 (Jenkins 51, 7); Ruddock 6 (Baird 51, 7), Penny 7, Deegan 7 GLASGOW: McKay 7; Cancelliere 8, Steyn 7, McDowall 6, McLean 6 (Thompson 56, 6); Jordan 6, Horne 6 (Dobie 66, 6) (Ferrie 74, 6); Kebble 7 (Bhatti 56, 6), F Brown 6 (Matthews 56, 6), Walker 7 (Berghan 56, 7); Manjezi 7, Samuel 6 (du Preez 56, 6); G Brown 7 (Bean 66, 6), Vailanu 7, Dempsey 7
Star man
Rob Russell -Leinster
