LEIN-EYED MONSTER

Franco concedes his defending champs were outclassed amid more Dublin dejection

- GRAEME MACPHERSON

IT didn't compare to their last Dublin dejection on the scoreboard but Franco Smith still admits his Warriors were outclassed by Leinster.

Glasgow pitched up at the Aviva in the Champions Cup two months ago, only to fly home with a 52-0 humbling haunting them.

The margin this time was cut to 18 but it will still go down as a one-sided affair as Warriors’ URC title defence was ended at the semi-final stage.

Glasgow soared all the way to South Africa last year, yet this time they were washed away in a Dublin downpour as Leinster scored six tries to reach their first URC showpiece since 2021.

The defending champions were well short of their best and just couldn't get anything going, heading down the tunnel at the break trailing 25-5.

Head coach Smith said: “It was a huge performance from Leinster from the word go.

“On the day it wasn’t good enough from us, especially in the first half.

“We should have started better so we didn't have to chase the scoreline in the second part of the game.

“That unfortunately led to more errors from our side.

“We could have been better but the way Leinster went about their business put us on the back foot. They outclassed us a little bit in the air.

“But I'm really proud when you see things in context.

“We had a lot of boys not available for selection this week.