No double joy as Warriors humbled
quest to complete a quickfire South African double was demolished in devastating fashion yesterday.
Warriors had been the hottest of favourites at 25/1 ON to cruise to glory in Port Elizabeth after last weekend’s romp against the Cheetahs.
But they produced their worst-ever Pro14 display to lose their 100% record in the most unlikely circumstances.
Gutted boss Dave Rennie admitted his troops were shocked into silence by their nightmare in Port Elizabeth.
The coach said: “I find it hard to think of the right words to describe the performance – the ones that immediately come to mind are hugely disappointing and flat.
“There has been no talking in the dressing room. Everyone is pretty shattered.” Glasgow had dominated the opening exchanges – only to fall behind to a breakaway try from speed merchant Yaw Penxe, goaled by Banda. Even worse was to come in the 10th minute as Banda was on target to convert a Martin du Toit effort from close in.
Incredibly, the Kings bagged a third midway through the half – Rudi van Rooyen the finishing clinically.
Banda’s strike opened up a 21-point gap. And even the home fans couldn’t believe their eyes when they watched their troops go over yet again almost immediately.
This time Glasgow were reprieved as the video ref ruled a knock-on in the build-up.
Kings then lost Penxe to the sin-bin for a tip-tackle on Dan van der Merwe.
And in the wake of the penalty lineout, Nick Grigg battled over, but it was also chalked off by the man in the stand.
Banda ended the half with a pinpoint penalty to leave the shell-shocked visitors needing a fightback of mammoth proportions.
Despite a spate of bench changes Glasgow still blundered and toiled at every turn – and when Harlon Klaassen cashed in on shocking defence to dash 70 metres for the bonus-point try, the Kings were out of reach.
Grigg, at long last, broke the Glasgow duck on the hourmark, Adam Hastings converting.
Hastings repeated the feat as Van der Merwe then went over in the corner
But when Du Toit danced in under the posts eight minutes from time, the Kings were home and dry.
Fraser Brown and Van der Merwe had the last words for Warriors to at least salvage a consolation point. Superstar Jonny Sexton marked his 150th Leinster appearance by snuffing out the Gunners.
The Lions hero orchestrated the victory for the European champions – who were a class above Richard Cockerill’s men.
Edinburgh boss Cockerill admitted his side got what they deserved.
He said: “They are a fantastic team – the best in Europe – and at least for large parts of the contest we made them work hard.”
To compound his woes, top prop Pierre Schoeman faces a ban of several weeks after being red-carded for an elbow-first challenge.
The hosts piled on heavy pressure from the start and only some frantic and brave defending stopped them piling up early points.
The Gunners were dealt a blow in the 15th minute when Fergus Mcfadden ploughed over for the first try in the wake of a surge from Devin Toner, who had charged down a clearance. Sexton added the tricky conversion.
Edinburgh’ paid the price for carelessness as James Lowe skipped over in the corner for the second Leinster try.
After the restart the visitors found a way through – Magnus Bradbury reaching the line at full stretch.
Jaco van der Walt found the target to narrow the gap to five.
There was a further boost for the Gunners when another Leinster effort was chalked off by the video ref for a forward pass in the build-up.
But it took them only two minutes to burst through again via full-back Jordan Larmour.
Sexton again converted – then sneaked over for the bonus-point touchdown.
His touchline kick was bang on. Then came substitute Schoeman’s moment of madness before Gary Ringrose rounded off the rout.