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Sun 1 Jun 2014 | 05:44
Leinster beat Glasgow to retain the RaboDirect Pro12 title for 2014

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Leinster retained the Pro12 title with a 34-12 final win over a spirited Glasgow Warriors side in Dublin on Saturday. The win meant that Brian O'Driscoll and Leo Cullen ended their Leinster careers on a high, although O'Driscoll's match didn't quite go to plan.

Zane Kirchner scored twice for in what turned out to be a great day for him, as he was also selected in the Springbok squad for their upcoming home Test series. Shane Jennings and Gordon D'Arcy crossed for tries of their own, while all of the Warriors' points came from the boot of Finn Russell.

O'Driscoll limped off after just nine minutes with a calf/hamstring/doesn't matter any more injury, putting an end to what was meant to be his final eighty minutes of rugby. He was given a rousing send off by the RDS crowd however, and enjoyed the festivities come the final whistle.

Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend said that the more experienced side pulled through in the end. "It was a great occasion, but we were just not good enough on the day. Experience, better play from Leinster and we didn't take our opportunities in the first half when we had the wind behind us," he told BBC Radio Scotland.

"We have made real progress to get to a final. The players have played really well and this group is going to be here for the future. We have just got to make sure we win it next time."

Leinster head coach Matt O'Connor spoke about the team's inspiration.

"Brian O'Driscoll has been immense. They don't make them like that any more and we are just privileged to have him in the environment. It's not all about one guy but there's no doubt everyone wanted to make sure he, Leo and the other guys who are leaving us went out in the right way."

As for O'Driscoll, he tweeted: "Not the way I'd hoped to play it out but sh*t happens!"

View a great video of the post match celebrations over on the next page

A great video of the Leinster celebrations post match

Posted By: Grant Constable

3 Comments

  • 7:45 PM 03/06/2014

    Gawd I will miss BOD. The humility of the man, still trying not to be the focus, his buddies giving him no choice.

    So gutted to leave the field on his shield, a commentator acknowledging he was doing what was best for his team and allowing a fitter player to shine.

    So happy for him and Jonny, so sad for all of us.

    Props to Leo too, who looks like he could be kin, as my moms side comes from pure Irish stock in beautiful Prince Edward Island canada

  • danknapp
    1:10 PM 02/06/2014

    Sorry, not Young, I misread the link and assumed Ashley Young was the other player. I have since realised that Ashley Young is instead an Association Footballer, with a perchant for diving, bless 'im.

  • danknapp
    1:08 PM 02/06/2014

    @Ihatemondays and @mtheg - I didn't see the dive, I assume this is it:

    http://balls.ie/rugby/vine-mike-mccarthy-channels-inner-ashley-young/

    I agree, it looks pathetic. I would be delighted to see a player sent off for that. It has absolutely no place in Rugby. McCarthy is a another cheat.

    I can't decide which I think is worse - Habana's dive after a late block from Farrell (which was worth a penalty at best) or McCarthy's dive after not being punched by Young (which would have been a red card had it connected with his head). From the crappy link I've posted above I can't tell how much of an air shot it was.

    Certainly there is no place for either action in Rugby. I would happily see each player given a yellow card for that and I think the IRB needs to be clear about it, given two incidents in high profile games.

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