Leinster visit isn’t a worry for Wilson

GIVEn that we’ve yet to even turn the clocks back, the new season remains very much in its infancy. Yet, already, the table in the United Rugby Championship has a familiar look to it.

Rather ominously, the top three spots are once again occupied by the three leading Irish teams — Ulster, Leinster and munster.

Leinster have had a vice-like grip on the title in recent times, winning it in each of the past four seasons.

the extent of Irish dominance can be found in the fact that Ulster and munster were the beaten finalists in each of the past two finals.

Indeed, Glasgow Warriors remain the last non-Irish team to contest the final when they were narrowly pipped by Leinster in 2019.

When Leinster roll into Scotstoun tonight, the outcome will not define Glasgow’s season. But it will be most instructive as to their chances of once again competing for top honours come the end of the campaign.

Danny Wilson’s side sit fourth in the table, nestled in behind the Irish trio. of the runners and riders, they look perhaps the best equipped to crash that particular party.

Leinster have won all four games this season — and by an aggregate scoreline of 131-31. Prior to a 50-15 thrashing of the Scarlets last weekend, they had barely been out of second gear.

they arrive in Glasgow near enough fully loaded, barring the injury-enforced absences of Johnny Sexton, James Ryan and Robbie Henshaw.

the Warriors are also restored to something closer to full strength, with ali Price and Zander Fagerson handed a first outing of the season after their exertions with the Lions in the summer.

Wilson’s men beat Leinster when the teams last met at Scotstoun in the Rainbow Cup back in June at the tail end of last season.

Victory against the best team in the league will rightly instil a sense of belief and confidence in his players that they can repeat the feat.

Insisting that his players will hold no fear factor of Leinster, Wilson said: ‘We beat them last time we played them.

‘Granted, it was the last game of the season. But that was a strong Leinster team we faced with a lot of top internationals in there.

‘So, for me, that was a big marker to beat them last time we met them at home.

‘We haven’t lost at home since February and playing teams like Leinster at home and winning is massive, so that’s our aim again.

‘We draw on that confidence that we beat them last time we played them. But I’m under no illusions, and the players are the same, that this is a very good side.

‘they are a very dangerous side who have played very well recently, they had a very good win against the Scarlets last week.

‘If we turn up emotionally where we were last time we played them, and we get the tactical side of our game functioning, then I think it should make for a very exciting game of rugby which we can hopefully finish on the right side of.

‘We’ve got 15 points from the first four games, with three wins on the bounce, so if we can get something out of this game, then that would be a really good start to the season.’

Wilson has opted to shuffle his pack slightly, with the in-form Ross

thompson being moved from fly-half to full-back.

along with flanker Rory Darge and winger Rufus mcLean, thompson forms an exciting young trio who have been Glasgow’s best players so far this season.

they have all been called up to the Scotland squad for the forthcoming autumn nations Series — and Wilson believes a clash with Leinster offers the perfect platform to showcase their ability.

‘I have spoken to a couple of them and said that these types of games are the nearest things to international rugby,’ said the head coach.

‘Derbies and top-of-thetable clashes against the top sides in the league — so they are the ones the international coaches will really take heed of.

‘It is hopefully going to be a packed house and hopefully it will make for a good night.’

GLASGOW: Thompson; Steyn, Tuipulotu, Johnson, McLean; Weir, Price; Bhatti, Matthews, Z Fagerson; Harley, Gray; Wilson (c), Darge, Dempsey. Replacements: Turner, Kebble, Pieretto, Bean, M Fagerson, G Horne, Grigg, Forbes. Kick-off: 7.35pm, Scotstoun Stadium. TV: LIVE on Premier Sports 1. Referee: Craig Evans (Wal).