Leinster 40-21 Glasgow Warriors
A brave second-half fightback from Glasgow Warriors ultimately yielded no reward in Dublin this evening, as Leinster emerged victorious by 40-21 in a nine-try rollercoaster at the RDS.
Tries from Thomas Gordon, Rufus McLean and Huw Jones proved in vain for the visitors, with Adam Hastings’ contentious red card moments before half-time one of the match’s major moments.
As has become the custom from the defending champions, Leinster took little time to get themselves going in the early evening sunshine. Having turned down a kickable penalty in favour of the five-metre lineout, Harry Byrne’s speed of thought saw the fly-half evade the tackle and dive over from close range for the game’s opening score. The conversion of his own try saw the home side lead 7-0, with just two minutes on the clock.
The lead was doubled just seven minutes later, as Leinster made their pressure tell once more. A cross-kick from Byrne was taken by Cian Kelleher, only for Cole Forbes to take the Leinster winger out in the air. The Glasgow debutant was shown a yellow card by referee Frank Murphy, with a penalty try forthcoming to boot.
Yet with almost their first foray into the Leinster 22, the Warriors served notice of their attacking capabilities. A superb line from Jones saw the centre slice through the Leinster defence, only to be dragged down five metres out. Undeterred, his offload was brilliantly gathered by Gordon, as the flanker crossed for the third successive meeting with the Irish province. Adam Hastings converted, bringing the Warriors back to within seven.
The hosts would finish the opening quarter on the front foot, however, powering over for their third try on the 20-minute mark. A half-break from Byrne took the home side to within five metres, before Scott Penny barged over to touch down for a try that – when converted – took the score to 21-7 in the home side’s favour.
Despite the deficit, the visitors looked lively when the ball was in hand; young back-three trio McLean, Forbes and Ollie Smith each looked dangerous, with the former almost crossing from a delightful delayed ball by Hastings.
Then came the match’s primary talking point; rising to claim a high ball, an overbalanced Hastings caught Cian Kelleher’s face with his boot. Despite the Glasgow fly-half looking at the floor at the time of contact, referee Frank Murphy saw fit to show Hastings a red card and reduce the visitors to 14 men.
To compound matters, Leinster would cross for their fourth try on the stroke of half-time. Once more it was Penny who provided the finishing touch, powering over from a quick tap to score his second of the night. David Hawkshaw – on for Byrne – converted, giving the hosts a 28-7 lead at the interval.

Head Coach Danny Wilson acted at the break, bringing Ross Thompson into the match in response to Hastings’ dismissal, whilst also introducing Gregor Brown for his club debut. Playing with a renewed vigour, the Warriors struck immediately. It was Grant Stewart who provided the spark, the hooker’s footwork and pace beating four defenders in the wide channels before he offloaded. On hand to collect was McLean, with the Scotland U20 star racing over untouched from the 22 for his first professional try. Thompson bisected the uprights with his first kick of the night, and the visitors were on the march.
It wasn’t long before the Warriors were roaring once more, throwing the match wide open by bursting through for their third try. With advantage in hand, Jamie Dobie’s wide pass found Jones, who powered his way over under pressure from Scott Fardy to touch down. Once more Thompson was flawless from the tee, and suddenly the Warriors were eying a famous comeback.
Even when their backs were firmly against the wall, the visitors stood tall. Excellent defence from the pack inside their own 22 saw the Warriors repel their hosts time and again, before the disruptive pair of Rob Harley and Richie Gray earned a crucial turnover from a five-metre maul.
Try as they might, the Warriors just couldn’t find the decisive breakthrough, however. Forbes and McLean each found themselves felled by a desperate defensive effort, whilst the Leinster defence held firm under wave upon wave of pressure.
With 10 minutes to play and chasing the game, Glasgow were reduced to 13. After taking exception to what looked like a knee to the head of Thompson, TJ Ioane was shown a yellow card for an illegal shoulder charge, and from there Leinster went to work.
The clinching score came with 73 minutes on the clock, and it was a simple numbers game for the hosts. Working the ball to the edge allowed Dave Kearney to feed skipper Luke McGrath for a run-in, Hawkshaw converting for a 35-21 lead.
Chasing the game from deep, the Warriors were hit with a late sucker punch by their hosts to cap off a frustrating night in Dublin. Turnover ball in midfield left Leinster with a four-on-one, with Kelleher the man to finish out wide. The conversion was astray, but it would be of little consequence in the final analysis.
live commentary 5:30 PM Sunday 28 Feb 2021
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Leinster
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Max O'Reilly
23. Replacement0metres made
3MINUTES PLAYED
0TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
-
David Hawkshaw
22. Replacement46metres made
47MINUTES PLAYED
8TACKLES MADE
6COMPLETE PASSES
-
Rowan Osborne
21. Replacement0metres made
5MINUTES PLAYED
1TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
-
Alex Soroka
20. Replacement4metres made
22MINUTES PLAYED
6TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
-
Jack Dunne
19. Replacement0metres made
5MINUTES PLAYED
9TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
-
Thomas Clarkson
18. Replacement0metres made
22MINUTES PLAYED
8TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
-
Greg McGrath
17. Replacement0metres made
5MINUTES PLAYED
2TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
-
Dan Sheehan
16. Replacement11metres made
20MINUTES PLAYED
4TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
-
Scott Penny
8. Number 865metres made
75MINUTES PLAYED
22TACKLES MADE
3COMPLETE PASSES
-
Josh van der Flier
7. Back-row17metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
24TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
-
Josh Murphy
6. Back-row21metres made
58MINUTES PLAYED
13TACKLES MADE
2COMPLETE PASSES
-
Scott Fardy
5. Second-row15metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
15TACKLES MADE
4COMPLETE PASSES
-
Devin Toner
4. Second-row2metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
17TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
-
Michael Bent
3. Tighthead prop6metres made
58MINUTES PLAYED
11TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
-
Sean Cronin
2. Hooker10metres made
60MINUTES PLAYED
14TACKLES MADE
3COMPLETE PASSES
-
Peter Dooley
1. Loosehead prop14metres made
75MINUTES PLAYED
13TACKLES MADE
3COMPLETE PASSES
-
Luke McGrath
9. Scrum-half35metres made
76MINUTES PLAYED
7TACKLES MADE
85COMPLETE PASSES
-
Harry Byrne
10. Stand-off14metres made
34MINUTES PLAYED
6TACKLES MADE
13COMPLETE PASSES
-
Dave Kearney
11. Wing39metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
2TACKLES MADE
2COMPLETE PASSES
-
Rory O'Loughlin
12. Inside-centre26metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
15TACKLES MADE
8COMPLETE PASSES
-
Jamie Osborne
13. Outside-centre10metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
12TACKLES MADE
4COMPLETE PASSES
-
Cian Kelleher
14. Wing36metres made
78MINUTES PLAYED
6TACKLES MADE
2COMPLETE PASSES
-
Jimmy O'Brien
15. Full-back67metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
5TACKLES MADE
6COMPLETE PASSES
Glasgow Warriors
-
Oli Smith
15. Full-back15metres made
40MINUTES PLAYED
6TACKLES MADE
3COMPLETE PASSES
-
Rufus McLean
14. Wing56metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
7TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
-
Huw Jones
13. Outside-centre54metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
10TACKLES MADE
2COMPLETE PASSES
-
Sam Johnson
12. Inside-centre13metres made
75MINUTES PLAYED
12TACKLES MADE
4COMPLETE PASSES
-
Cole Forbes
11. Wing36metres made
70MINUTES PLAYED
6TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
-
Adam Hastings
10. Stand-off32metres made
38MINUTES PLAYED
1TACKLES MADE
14COMPLETE PASSES
-
Jamie Dobie
9. Scrum-half8metres made
64MINUTES PLAYED
7TACKLES MADE
85COMPLETE PASSES
-
Oli Kebble
1. Loosehead prop10metres made
60MINUTES PLAYED
14TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
-
Grant Stewart
2. Hooker17metres made
66MINUTES PLAYED
18TACKLES MADE
3COMPLETE PASSES
-
Enrique Pieretto Heiland
3. Tighthead prop6metres made
54MINUTES PLAYED
19TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
-
Richie Gray
4. Second-row0metres made
66MINUTES PLAYED
19TACKLES MADE
4COMPLETE PASSES
-
Leone Nakarawa
5. Second-row5metres made
40MINUTES PLAYED
8TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
-
Rob Harley
6. Back-row1metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
11TACKLES MADE
2COMPLETE PASSES
-
Thomas Gordon
7. Back-row13metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
20TACKLES MADE
5COMPLETE PASSES
-
Ryan Wilson
8. Number 835metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
17TACKLES MADE
5COMPLETE PASSES
-
Johnny Matthews
16. Replacement1metres made
14MINUTES PLAYED
2TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
-
Aki Seiuli
17. Replacement25metres made
20MINUTES PLAYED
2TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
-
D'arcy Rae
18. Replacement0metres made
26MINUTES PLAYED
6TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
-
Gregor Brown
19. Replacement10metres made
40MINUTES PLAYED
12TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
-
TJ Ioane
20. Replacement0metres made
5MINUTES PLAYED
1TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
-
Sean Kennedy
21. Replacement12metres made
16MINUTES PLAYED
0TACKLES MADE
31COMPLETE PASSES
-
Ross Thompson
22. Replacement4metres made
40MINUTES PLAYED
1TACKLES MADE
11COMPLETE PASSES
-
Robbie Fergusson
23. Replacement8metres made
5MINUTES PLAYED
0TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
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