Ruddock puts Leinster back on top of the table

Leinster 28
(Try: N Reid, D Fanning, R Ruddock Con: I Madigan (2) Pen: I Madigan (3))

Glasgow 25
(Try: R Vernon (2), N Matawalu Con: F Russell (2) Pen: F Russell, R Fin)n

More than anything, this was a progress report. Even though Leinster's three-try victory, against the always dangerous Glasgow, put them top of the Pro12 pile at Munster's expense, that all pales in significance.

The Six Nations is approaching its zenith and this was an opportunity to shine. The Leinster machine took care of itself.

The few desperately trying to turn Joe Schmidt’s head before the Italian match at the Aviva stadium next Saturday might just have succeeded.

With that in mind, Ian Madigan couldn't have done much more than registering five from six kicks, including a vital touch line conversion of Rhys Ruddock's 63rd-minute try.

With Jimmy Gopperth kicking his heels for the entire 80 minutes, this was Leinster coach Matt O’Connor giving as much opportunity as possible for his young fly-half to skip back over Ulster’s Paddy Jackson (presuming Jonathan Sexton does not recover from thumb ligament damage).

Afterwards, very late on Saturday night following a ridiculously scheduled 8.30pm kick-off that made the Pro12 organisers look short-sighted to say the least, O’Connor was asked if it surprised him to see Jackson surpass Madigan in recent months.

"I'm not necessarily surprised, that's obviously a judgement call from Joe and I haven't gone into the detail of why that is the case," said O'Connor.

Very similar
"Mads has got things in his game to work on, as has Paddy, but the ability to kick goals like he does and the threat that he has with ball in hand gives you the ability to play a certain way.

“It is probably very similar to what Johnny does and maybe the thinking is that it is a bit of a change-up in relation to what Paddy offers relative to what Johnny offers and that might have given him a sniff.

"Relative to how fit Johnny is for Italy, I don't think we need to worry too much about the fly-half stocks."

With prudence likely to overrule Peter O'Mahony's desire to run on a hamstring strain after two weeks rest, Ruddock – and not the impressive Jordi Murphy, Ulster's Iain Henderson or Munster's Tommy O'Donnell – is primed to leap into the Ireland backrow.

It’s simple. Ruddock’s a natural six and the aforementioned trio are a number eight, lock and openside respectively.

“Definitely, he’s in the Irish set-up as the next best six I think,” O’Connor continued.

“I remember watching Rhys a couple of years ago and thought he would have had a massive future in the game and injuries and all sorts of other things kept him out of the limelight a bit.

“He’s just been very, very consistent for us, he carries the ball, he’s a great lineout option and he has a massive work rate. His impacts on the game are becoming greater and greater.”

It showed again here. The gathering of that all-important second cap, nearly four years after the first in Australia, seems imminent.

There's a growing argument for Martin Moore to usurp Mike Ross in Ireland's starting XV. The veteran tight head was the only starting international released for active duty this weekend. As pre-planned, Ross relieved Moore on 50 minutes in what could be a dress rehearsal for Saturday.

Abductor muscle
There was also the sight of Fergus McFadden lending his considerable power to Leinster's defence from outside centre. Just in case Brian O'Driscoll's calf flares up again.

Luke Fitzgerald’s inability to shake off his abductor muscle problem – providing a welcome opportunity for Sam Coghlan-Murray – almost certainly guarantees McFadden’s retention on the Ireland bench.

Seán Cronin, another hunting further international exposure, made an early impression, hammering into two defenders then freeing his hands to send Noel Reid dashing under the posts. Madigan kept the scoreboard ticking over but so did Glasgow centre Richie Vernon, crossing for two tries following missed tackles by Jack McGrath and Darragh Fanning.

Fanning atoned when he profited from Zane Kirchner's brilliant one-handed flick pass to make it 21-12 approaching half-time. Finn Russell's boot kept Glasgow in touch and an opportunistic try from Niko Matawalu threatened a shock result but Leinster recovered to engineer Ruddock's try after a sustained period of pressure.
Scoring sequence - 5 mins: N Reid, 5-0; I Madigan conv, 7-0; 11: Richie Vernon try, 7-5; F Russell conv, 7-7; 18: I Madigan pen, 10-7; 22 : R Vernon try, 10-12; 26: I Madigan pen, 13-12; 30: I Madigan pen, 16-12; 36: D Fanning try, 21-12; F Russell pen, 21-15. Half-time. 49 mins: N Matawalu try, 21-20; F Russell conv, 21-22; 62: R Ruddock try, 26-22; I Madigan conv, 28-22; 75 R Finn pen 28-25.
LEINSTER: Z Kirchner; D Fanning, F McFadden, N Reid, S Coghlan-Murray; I Madigan, E Reddan; J McGrath, S Cronin, M Moore; L Cullen (capt), M McCarthy; R Ruddock, S Jennings, J Murphy. Replacements: I Boss for E Reddan, R Strauss for S Cronin, M Ross for M Moore (all 50 mins), D Ryan for S Jennings (67 mins), M Bent for J McGrath (71 mins), D Hudson for S Coghlan-Murray (74 mins).
GLASGOW WARRIORS:P Murchie; T Seymour, R Vernon, F Russell, N Matawalu; R Jackson, C Cusiter (capt); G Reid, P MacArthur, E Kalman; T Swinson, J Gray; J Eddie, R Harley, J Strauss. Replacements: J Yanuyanutawa for G Reid, J Welsh for E Kalman (both 50 mins), L Jones for T Seymour, T Holmas for R Harley, L Nakarawa for J Strauss (all 64 mins), H Pyrgos for C Cusiter (67 mins), F Brown for P MacArthur (68 mins), M Bennett for R Vernon (73 mins).
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU).