Leinster will host next week’s BKT United Rugby Championship final at Croke Park after dishing out a 37-19 beating to last year’s winners Glasgow Warriors.
In wet conditions at the Aviva Stadium, Leo Cullen’s men dominated this play-off clash with Ryan Baird producing a player-of-the-match performance up front, and Dan Sheehan and Jamie Osborne scoring two tries each.
Having endured three straight URC semi-final defeats, this was an important result for the table-topping province as they set up a Dublin decider against the Vodacom Bulls next Saturday (kick-off 5pm).
In-form hooker Sheehan started and finished the first half’s try-scoring to give Leinster a 25-5 interval lead, with Osborne and Thomas Clarkson also crossing the try-line.
Osborne and replacement Ciarán Frawley made it six tries to one, before closing scores from Jamie Dobie and Sione Tuipulotu added to George Horne’s fourth-minute effort.
Following an underwhelming quarter-final victory over the Scarlets, this was an ideal response from Leinster who regained their mojo in both attack and defence to defeat Glasgow for the third time this season.
The hosts hit the ground running, Jamison Gibson-Park pulling the trigger with a peach of a pass for Sheehan to raid over in the second minute.
Glasgow, who were impressive winners over the DHL Stormers last week, swiftly closed the gap to 7-5 when Kyle Rowe’s inviting kick infield was dotted down by Horne.
Crossing from James Lowe denied Leinster a second try, but Sam Prendergast slotted over a 21st-minute penalty to put five points between the teams.
A forward pass from Gibson-Park unfortunately ruled out a breahtless counter-attacking try from Osborne, but the young centre duly scored out wide from a slick Lowe offload.
Leinster then turned a scrum penalty against Fin Richardson into five more points – his opposite Clarkson rumbled over with a powerful finish – and Sheehan’s maul try arrived right on the stroke of half-time.
The Warriors introduced Stafford McDowall for Adam Hastings, meaning a switch to out-half for Tom Jordan, yet Leinster remained in full control with Sheehan and Jordie Barrett both going close to registering try number five.
Following a penalty miss from Prendergast who had a disappointing day with the boot, Gibson-Park clinically played in Osborne in the 53rd minute, his try beside the posts makign it 32-5.
Replacement Frawley followed him over the try-line just four minutes later, with Lowe’s initial aerial take on the opposite wing igniting a sweeping move.
Sprung from the Scots’ bench, Dobie raced over in the 71st minute, and Tuipulotu displayed his dancing feet with a superb solo try from the edge of Leinster’s 22.
Bulls beat compatriots the Sharks from Durban 25-13 in front of 47,000 spectators at Loftus Versfeld.
