European Cup Pool Five Preview/Glasgow v Leinster: A point of no return for Leinster? The history of the Heineken Cup shows us no team have ever lost their opening two matches and progressed to the quarter-finals. Certainly, Leinster will want to avoid testing the theory that two knockdowns effectively means you're out of this competition, by picking themselves off the canvas again.
That Glasgow are in the same ring is no comfort either. As much as Leinster will be eyeing this up as a must-win, so too will the Scots. In their case, they are seeking to end a dispiriting run of nine successive defeats in this competition. But the memory of their opportunist 32-10 win over Munster a month ago, the nature of their 16-3 defeat away to Bourgoin last week, and Edinburgh's stunning win over the 2004 cup winners and reigning three-in-a-row English champions, Wasps, show the Scots are eminently capable of beating anyone on home turf.
Even allowing for their setpiece difficulties last week, Leinster had ample opportunities to beat Bath - or at any rate draw - and the three changes in the tight five undoubtedly give them a slightly bulkier and more experienced look up front.
With David Blaney sidelined (his brother Brian has been promoted to the bench) Bernard Jackman has been recalled, while Will Green has overcome the chest infection that ruled him out last week and Malcolm O'Kelly is deemed ready to start his first game since last season after an effective 30-minute comeback last week. Reggie Corrigan makes his 50th appearance in the competition.
Even without the return of O'Kelly, Glasgow oughtn't to make the same inroads into Leinster's Achilles heel as did Bath's defensive lineout, with Steve Borthwick a burglar par excellence. Jackman adds beef to the front-row mix as well as the loose exchanges, and the experienced Green has had more game time than Emmet Byrne.
No, Glasgow will provide a whole different and even more searching challenge, especially to the Leinster defence. They won't hoof the ball downfield or into the clouds as the assured Chris Malone did. Mercurial outhalf Dan Parks, like Glasgow, is a different matter, capable of higher highs and lower lows, and the opening quarter or so will be a fair barometer of his performance.
Either way, Glasgow will retain the ball more, go from touchline to touchline, probing along the line all the way. Making their first-up tackles and keeping their defensive shape will be a far bigger key to Leinster's chances. Michael Cheika reckons Leinster will have less setpiece ball, especially from lineouts, but perhaps more chances from turnovers.
Desire? Passion? Last week Leinster possibly had too much of the stuff and wanted too much to win. But if they can regenerate the fear/challenge thrown down by the Bath juggernaut, hit the breakdown as physically and fiercely, Brian O'Riordan's pace, Felipe Contepomi's box of tricks, the penetration of the Horgan-D'Arcy axis and the finishing ability of the outside three should give them a sharper edge.
Leinster have been working on getting players onto the ball in support to finish off the breaks by Jamie Heaslip and co.
"It really is about being disciplined," says Cheika. "If we improve our play we will win. It will be up to them to deal with us, rather than us dealing with them, and that's how it was for longer periods of time last weekend. We've got to make fewer mistakes at the setpiece to build the pressure. We expect a very tough contest and we'll be going flat out, I can tell you that."
This could be another nail-biting affair. Right down to the last whistle. It'll be faster and fancier. Leinster undoubtedly have the wherewithal and ability to pull through. And how they need to.
GLASGOW WARRIORS: G Staniforth; H O'Hare, G Morrison, A Henderson, R Lamont; D Parks (capt), G Beveridge; K Tkachuk, S Lawson, L Harrison; T Barker, C Hamilton; P Dearlove, J Barclay, J Beattie. Replacements: F Thomson, S Corsar, G Hayter, D Turner, S Pinder, C Gregor, C Shaw.
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; K Lewis, G D'Arcy, S Horgan, R Kearney; F Contepomi (capt) B O'Riordan; R Corrigan, B Jackman, W Green; B Williams, M O'Kelly; C Potts, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: B Blaney, E Byrne, B Gissing, C Jowitt, B O'Meara, E Hickey, J Hepworth.
Referee: Chris White (England).
Previous meetings European Cup: 1999-00 Glasgow 29 Leinster 17, Leinster 44 Glasgow 17. Results so far: Bourgoin 16 Glasgow 3; Leinster 19 Bath 22.
Forecast: Leinster to win.
