Connors and Byrne earn Cullen’s praise as second string make mark
LEINSTER marched on to their seventh straight win in the PRO14 at Scotstoun on Saturday to enhance their position at the top of Conference A, eight points clear of second-placed Ulster.
While victories this season have become routine for Leinster this latest success was exceptional having been achieved by the province’s second-string team, against a Glasgow side that contained enough experience to suggest a match-winning formation.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen believes that his squad is robust enough to overcome the absence of his first choice team.
“We’ve got a very competitive group of players. We picked guys who were highly motivated to come over here and do a job for the team. And they were excellent today,” he said.
Promotion
The match offered several players a chance to put their hand up for promotion, and notably in the back-row where Leinster are without the injured duo Jack Conan and Dan Leavy. In the event, flanker Will Connors did his career no harm with an impressive display that earned the openside the man of the match accolade.
“Will’s been excellent.” stated Cullen, adding: “He played against Connacht a couple of weeks ago and he was excellent in that game. He really leads the defensive line. He’s quick and he’s got very good technique in the tackle. He really hits through guys. He put in some great shots today. So it was a positive step for him.”
In many ways Ross Byrne was Leinster’s match-winner. The outhalf finished the match with five successful kicks from five attempts and in points terms that was the difference between the two sides.
Byrne, however, exerted an influence far beyond goal-kicking; his game management against Glasgow confirming his rich seam of form for Leinster this season.
“Ross Byrne was a bit unlucky in playing in the match against England at Twickenham. It was a tough day for him but he’s come back and he’s been outstanding for us I can’t speak highly enough about him. He’s one that will push on,” observed Cullen.
Byrne’s first contribution was a penalty goal after Glasgow had scored two unconverted tries, both by full-back Ruaridh Jackson in a strong opening quarter by the Warriors.
But any sense that Glasgow would brush aside the Leinster secondstringers was quickly altered when Conor O’Brien used pace and good footwork to break through the Glasgow defence before delivering the scoring pass to Cian Kelleher.
Byrne converted and then added the extras to a second and a similarly constructed try for Kelleher for a 17-10 half time lead. The out-half’s contributions continued in the second half with two penalties to extend the lead.
Warriors staged a late surge but could not breach a tenacious defence. “In the last few minutes when Glasgow came at us we scrambled well, and managed to hold the ball up over the line. That’s a great sign in terms of the characters we have in the group,” said Cullen.