Munster run riot against the Dragons ...but Blues taste defeat in Glasgow
GLASGOW came out on top in a thrilling Pro14 clash against Leinster at Scotstoun last night, but Leo Cullen’s side looked barely recognisable to the one that toppled the Scots in the Champions Cup just two weeks ago.
With 14 members of the Leinster squad unavailable due to international duty, and a host more still on the treatment table, if anything, the fact that the Blues could still have won this game only showcased once again the incredible pool of talent at Cullen’s disposal.
In the absence of so many Leinster heavy-hitters, it was Peter Horne who ran the show for Glasgow, who won their eighth consecutive Pro14 clash.
Released from the Scotland camp by head coach Gregor Townsend, the fly-half sparked his team in attack in a manic first half which saw six tries scored — and calmed things down in the second when the hosts were on the ropes.
With Glasgow’s first-choice Finn Russell rested on the orders of Townsend ahead of the game against Samoa next weekend, Horne was given licence to shine on a evening when his younger brother George not only started beside him for the first time at scrum-half, but scored two tries.
Niko Matawalu ran the older Horne a close second for man of the match, the little Fijian maestro setting up one of Glasgow’s four tries with a superb run from deep as the home side avenged their Champions Cup defeat to the Irish visitors.
Leinster played their part in an entertaining match, scoring three tries of their own in a seven-try thriller, which also saw Nick Grigg cross twice for the Warriors.
Even without first-choice players such as Russell, Stuart Hogg, Zander Fagerson and Tommy Seymour this was a top-class Glasgow performance.
Leinster took the lead after just five minutes. Full-back Jordan Larmour showed superb agility to sidestep three tackles before being stopped just short.
From the ruck, the ball was moved along the line to Jamison Gibson-Park, who dived over under the posts. Fly-half Ross Byrne put over the extras.
Glasgow pulled level within two minutes when George Horne got on the end of a pass from George Turner to run straight down the middle and score under the posts. His big brother Peter put over the conversion.
There was no let-up in the action as Leinster went in for the third try of the game after just 11 minutes, Rory O’Loughlin going over for the score.
With only 15 minutes gone, a fourth try came through the brute strength of Grigg, who bulldozed his way over for the hosts.
Jordi Murphy of Leinster then picked up a yellow card for obstructing George Horne’s attempts to take a quick-tap penalty.
The younger Horne scored the fifth try of the contest — and Glasgow’s third — with 20 minutes on the clock, his brother again putting over the conversion.
There was to be more joy for Glasgow when a magical run from deep in his own half by Matawalu cut the Leinster defence in two. He unselfishly passed to Grigg for his second try of the match.
Peter Horne maintained his 100per-cent record with the boot and then put over a penalty to extend Glasgow’s lead to 17 points at the break.
Five minutes into the second half, Glasgow’s Scott Cummings was yellow-carded for disrupting a maul. In the next move, Adam Byrne saw off a challenge from Matawalu to score in the corner for Leinster side. Ross Byrne put over the conversion.
Centre Dunbar made an inauspicious return after six weeks out injured. Just five minutes after
coming off the bench in his comeback game, he was yellow-carded for a blatant tip tackle just after the hour mark.
Down to 14 men for the second time in the half, only strong defence from Glasgow kept a persistent Leinster outfit at bay.
Matawalu tried to spark his team in attack but, with Dunbar in the sin bin, they spent most of the time in their own half, and were let out of jail twice by poor handling by the Leinster backs.
Glasgow head coach Dave Rennie said his side were outmuscled in last month’s defeat to Leinster, but they stood their ground last night amid some late pressure.