Preview: Pro12 Final
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The fifth Pro12 Final will be contested appropriately between the two teams who finished top of the pile after the 22 round regular season.
Reigning champions, Leinster, and Glasgow Warriors, making their first apperance, will be wrestling for the trophy.
The match will be played at the Royal Dublin Society Showground on Saturday, making it the third consecutive season the venue has been nominated to host the final.
Glasgow Warriors held off a late comeback from Munster at Scotstoun to secure their place in the final by the narrowest of margins in a 16-15 victory.
Whilst Leinster deposed of last season’s beaten finalists, Ulster, in a tense game also at the RDS, the hosts only taking the lead in the 72nd minute of the game.
So twelve teams are now whittled down to two and the scene is all set for the season finale – it took Leinster four
attempts to secure the title via the play-off format, can they become the first team to retain it, or will the newcomers
take the trophy at their first attempt?
Jamie Heaslip believes Leinster will take the field for the Pro12 final against Glasgow Warriors a better side than the one that lifted the trophy last season.
The Irish No.8 rejected the notion that the season would be seen as a failure if Leinster do not run out victorious at the RDS, despite the threat of their first trophyless season in four years.
And Heaslip credits his side's table-topping performance this season with the hard work put in by everyone at the club every day since last year's triumph.
"It's about what we did in pre-season, it's about what we did on the terrible, cold, wet days in winter or yesterday in training," he told Sports News Ireland.
"If we come together and play to our standard, we'll get the outcome that we deserve. I know we've had success over the last couple of years.
"If you compare it to last year, we're in a better position. Last year we didn't get out of our group in Europe, this year we got out but unfortunately got beaten by the team who went on to win it.
"The guys who take the field [on Saturday] are going to know their job and will execute to the best of their ability and then back it up for 80 minutes."
Recent results:
2014: Leinster won 28-25.
2013: Glasgow Warriors won 12-6.
2013: Leinster won 17-15.
Prediction: Both of these teams have been outstanding in their pool stages and it is only fitting that the top teams contest it. The experiance clearly lies with Leinster as the defending champions and this seems like it could be the edge in a tight game. Glasgow Warriors might be a little over awed in their first Final which could lead an easier path for the Irish province. Leinster by less than seven.
Teams:
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Zane Kirchner, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip (c), 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Rhys Ruddock, 5 Mike McCarthy, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Aaron Dundon, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Martin Moore, 19 Leo Cullen, 20 Sean O'Brien, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madian, 23 Darragh Fanning.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Alex Dunbar, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Tommy Seymour, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Al Kellock (c), 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Gordon Reid.
Replacements: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Ryan Grant, 18 Moray Low, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Leone Nakarawa, 21 Niko Matawalu, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Sean Lamont.
Date: Saturday, 31 May
Venue: RDS, Dublin
Kick-off: 18.15; 17.15 GMT
Referee: Nigel Owens
Assistant Referees: Leighton Hodges, Ian Davies
TMO: Derek Bevan
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