Leinster pummelled champions Glasgow for six tries in the United Rugby Championship semi-final in front of 15,762 spectators at Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Braces by Dan Sheehan and Jamie Osborne, with the others coming from Thomas Clarkson and Ciarán Frawley, paved the way for a place in the final.
From the beginning, Tommy O’Brien recovered a penalty from the kick-off to provide the perfect opportunity for Sam Prendergast to go to the corner.
The lineout was funnelled forward, with Sheehan’s loose offload rescued by Tommy O’Brien. The heavy carries came with true tempo, Jimmy O’Brien’s good decision keeping the momentum, and Sheehan blasting over for the opening try, which Prendergast converted in the fourth minute.
Within a minute, Glasgow responded in typically explosive fashion, Sione Tuipulotu moving the ball left for Kyle Rowe to chip in behind, where George Horne won the race to the ball to touch down and make it 7-5 to the home side.
A Sheehan burst up the left was impressive. Scott Penny flew to the whitewash but James Lowe’s line was deemed to be illegal and the try was disallowed.
George Horne played Jamison Gibson Park illegally to facilitate another attacking lineout. Sheehan’s dart to Jack Conan at the front was driven up well until Scott Cummings poached a turnover at the breakdown.
This signalled a downpour of rain, which convinced Horne to clear the ball to a leaping Tommy O’Brien. The right-wing made a nuisance of himself from a Gibson-Park Garryowen to keep Glasgow pinned back.
It was Osborne’s turn to compete in the air for the reward of a scrum in the middle, near the 22.
The pass to Tommy O’Brien did not match Jordie Barrett’s surge. But the continuity delivered a penalty for Prendergast to make it 10-5 in the 23rd minute.
A split-second decision by Barrett and Prendergast’s flashing pass allowed Lowe to clear with conviction. Osborne’s rib-tickling tackle on Tom Jordan shook the ball free. Tommy O’Brien kicked long and edged a chase for the ball.
Scrum-half Gibson-Park found Osborne galloping onto the ball for a try. Prendergast converted but the TMO stepped in to rule the tryout for a forward pass.
Never mind. A slick series of passes through the hands of Barrett, Jimmy O’Brien and Lowe put Osborne away on the left for a stunning try in the 28th minute.
Leinster were managing to play in the right areas, primarily through the kicking prowess of Gibson-Park and Prendergast.
A scrum penalty was the basis for the launch of another attacking lineout, Lowe coming back on the angle and tighthead prop Clarkson burrowing to the line to put the hosts up 20-5 in the 34th minute.
There was still time left for Leinster to threaten from Ryan Baird’s late line and pass, which Lowe couldn’t clutch for a try. Another penalty try was translated into a textbook lineout, which the pack drove mercilessly for Sheehan to crash over for a 25-5 lead at the break.
Leinster were keen to kill the game off, coming on strong for Prendergast to almost work the oracle with a kick to Lowe. A pulverising attack looked like delivering the hat-trick try for Sheehan before Barrett knocked on in the act of grounding for a third disallowed try.
It was important to come away with points. A failure to release in the tackle handed Prendergast a shot at improving his kicking return. He couldn’t take advantage.
The Warriors didn’t have the tools to lift the siege. A delicious Osborne line caused a side entry. Prendergast looked to the corner.
Sheehan had two pops. Baird had another. Gibson-Park’s sizzling flat pass sent Osborne in for his second try as Prendergast converted to make it 32-5 in the 55th minute.
There was no way back from there. The introduction of Frawley sparked another dimension of attack.
Lowe took a high ball and took off down the left. Prendergast was controlled in his distribution. Tommy O’Brien almost finished before a charging Frawley crossed in the right corner for the try.
The collective work rate of Leinster was suffocating, with Baird, Joe McCarthy and Conan leading the way.
The relentless ball-in-hand approach involved a bullish run by Rónan Kelleher, trademark offloads by RG Snyman and Tommy O’Brien’s attempt to outflank Glasgow.
At last, Glasgow broke away with Josh McKay’s electric counter but Tommy O’Brien ate up the ground to snare Jordan when a try looked likely.
Replacement Jamie Dobie broke through for a consolation try, converted by Jordan, to make it 37-12 in the 73rd minute before Tuipulotu added another before the final whistle.
Alas, it could not cover the near-total domination of Leinster.
Scorers:
Leinster Rugby: Tries: Dan Sheehan (2), Jamie Osborne (2), Thomas Clarkson, Ciarán Frawley. Conversions: Sam Prendergast (2). Penalty: Sam Prendergast.
Glasgow Warriors: Tries: George Horne, Jamie Dobie, Sione Tuipulotu. Conversions: Tom Jordan (2).
Teams
Leinster Rugby: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Jamie Osborne, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 James Lowe, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jack Conan (c), 7 Scott Penny, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 James Ryan, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter. Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Jack Boyle, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Max Deegan, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Ross Byrne, 23 Ciarán Frawley.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn (c), 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Tom Jordan, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Euan Ferrie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Alex Samuel, 3 Fin Richardson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Jamie Bhatti. Replacements: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Jack Mann, 21 Macenzzie Duncan, 22 Stafford McDowall, 23 Jamie Dobie.