Match Preview | Leinster

• 30 Oct 2020

A first-ever Monday night Guinness PRO14 clash awaits Glasgow Warriors in round four of the 2020/21 season, as Danny Wilson’s side welcomes Leinster to Scotstoun.

The home
side will be looking to bounce back from a 23-15 reverse at the hands of the
Ospreys last time out, despite leading through early tries from Huw Jones and George
Turner.

Wilson’s men
now welcome the defending Guinness PRO14 champions to Glasgow’s west end, the
latest instalment in one of the competition’s most intriguing rivalries in
recent seasons.

With the
Irish province on an unbeaten run of 22 matches in the competition, however,
there will be no underestimating the size of the task facing the Warriors on
Monday evening.

Here’s how Leinster
are shaping up ahead of the match:

? Eyes on the prize…

Got your 2020/21 Warrior Nation Membership yet? Sign up now right here ? https://t.co/eknGiUgReu#WhateverItTakes ⚔️?️ pic.twitter.com/RXflb0zSKp
— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) October 22, 2020

Leinster
form guide

Leo Cullen’s
side picked up where they left off at the beginning of the 2020/21 season, as
the men from the RDS sit top of Conference A with a maximum 15 points from
their opening three matches this campaign.

A brace from
James Lowe helped Leinster to a 35-5 win over the Dragons on opening weekend,
before being made to work for a 37-25 victory away to Benetton in round two.

The
champions returned home in style last time out, however, running in nine tries
in a 63-8 dismantling of Zebre at the RDS.

Summer
departures

The Leinster
faithful said farewell to two legends of the province following the conclusion
of the 2019/20 season, as both Rob Kearney and Fergus McFadden bowed out for
the Irish province.

Australian
international Joe Tomane was another to depart the RDS, the centre opting to
join Japanese top flight side Ricoh Black Rams for the 2020/21 season.

Promising
prop duo Jack Aungier and Roman Salanoa also said their goodbyes to their
former team-mates, making the switch to Connacht and Munster respectively.

New
arrivals

A settled
Leinster squad saw no new arrivals per se during the off-season, with Cullen
and his coaching staff opting to promote from within ahead of the new season.

Highly-rated
second-rower Ryan Baird was rewarded for his performances in 2019/20 with a
first professional contract, with the 21-year-old then finding himself named in
Ireland’s squad for the conclusion of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations.

Dan Sheehan
was another to be promoted from the academy ahead of the new campaign; the
hooker marked his debut in style, crossing for two tries in last weekend’s
victory over Zebre at the RDS.

Ones to
watch

After 19
months out of action due to a serious injury, Leinster fans welcomed Dan Leavy
back with rapturous acclaim against Zebre. The flanker had been building a
reputation as one of the best turnover specialists in the business prior to
injury, and will be hoping for a strong run of form to force his way back into
Ireland reckoning.

With the
focus for so long having been on Leinster’s production line of academy talents,
people may miss the significant role played by Scott Fardy in the province’s
development. The former Australia international offers a leadership presence in
the pack, and is a high-calibre operator in both open play and the set piece.

With Jonny
Sexton and Ross Byrne away with Ireland, Ciaran Frawley is one man who will be
looking to put his hand up for a shot at the fly-half jersey. The 22-year-old
has impressed since making his debut in 2018, and is equally capable at inside
centre and full-back as he is in the number 10 shirt.

Previous
Encounters

Leinster held
the upper hand over the Warriors last season, claiming victory in both
encounters between the pair en route to the 2019/20 title.

Two early
scores from Ruaridh Jackson were ultimately in vain for Glasgow back in
November 2019, as Cullen’s men claimed a 23-10 win at Scotstoun.

It was then
Baird who took centre stage for Leinster in Glasgow’s last match before the Guinness
PRO14’s suspension earlier this year, running in a hat-trick in the Irish side’s
55-19 win at the RDS back in February.

Match
officials

Ben
Whitehouse will take charge of Monday night’s clash at Scotstoun, the Welshman
handed the whistle for the 67^th time in competition history.

Finlay Brown
and Duncan McClement will be his assistants under the floodlights, with Andrew
McMenemy on hand as the TMO if required.

Broadcast
information

Glasgow Warriors
fans can watch the match live on Premier Sports 1 on Monday night, with
kick-off scheduled for 8.15pm.

Live radio
commentary can also be found on BBC Radio Scotland MW from 8pm, whilst you can
follow all the action as it happens on our Live Match Centre at glasgowwarriors.org.