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'It'll be 23 of us against probably 40,000' - Sexton sets scene for PRO14 decider in Glasgow

Johnny Sexton expects Leinster to face a hot Glasgow reception on Saturday (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Johnny Sexton has told Leinster to relish the challenge of beating Glasgow in their own back yard. The Irish side expect their travelling supporters to be vastly outnumbered when they run out to take on the Warriors at Celtic Park on Saturday.

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The venue for the Guinness PRO14 final is just seven miles from where Dave Rennie’s team play their home games and the majority of the 43,000 tickets sold so far will be held by those cheering on Glasgow. Sexton knows his team will have to do it the hard way if they are to retain the league title they won last year.

But the Ireland fly-half is determined to repay the fans who do travel across the Irish Sea with a vintage performance after their defeat to Saracens in the Heinken Champions Cup final in Newcastle a fortnight ago. “We have to try and cherish that, don’t we?” he said as he was asked about the difficulty of facing Warriors within their own city.

“I think Saracens are a great example over the years of a team that have thrived in other teams’ back gardens. We need to try and take a little bit of that into tomorrow. It’ll be 23 of us against probably 40,000.

“I don’t know how many Leinster fans will make it over having put their hands in their pockets to come to Newcastle. We probably let them down there a little bit and want to repay them. It’ll be a tough challenge for us, but one we’re looking forward to.”

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen stoked the tension ahead of the clash last week by calling on the Celtic faithful to turn their back on Glasgow and support his side when they run out at Parkhead. Cullen suggested last week that the Hoops support should back his team because “Glasgow rugby players all support Rangers I’ve been told”.

That earned him a rebuke from Lisbon Lion Jim Craig but at the final press conference ahead of Saturday’s match, the Blues’ boss started off by apologising. “After the game last week, our semi-final, I made a comment that seemed to attract plenty of attention,” he started.

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“Just so that we’re all aware, it was a throwaway remark, it was made in jest and I didn’t mean to offend anyone. For any individuals that I did offend, I apologise to them.”

– Press Association

WATCH: RugbyPass goes behind the scenes at the 2018 Guinness PRO14 final won by Leinster in Dublin 

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TI 2 hours ago
All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

Rieko took literally years to turn from a defensive liability at 13 into a guy, who’s defensively sound as it befits the position. And it all came at the cost of him being much less of an offensive threat, than what he used to be. Proctor is a natural 13, he handles, passes, and kicks way better than Rieko ever will, he just isn’t as fast.


It’s unfair to judge Tupaea on the handful of games he’s had in 2022 before he got nearly crippled by a Wallaby lock. What could Tupaea/Proctor pairing be, if they got the same amount of chances as Jordie/Rieko?


Because no matter how you spin it, playing a player outside of his natural position is a poor asset management. No matter how talented he is, he still competes against players who had years and years of practice at the position. And if said guy is so talented that he actually CAN compete against specialists, imagine how much better still he could have been, if he had all those years to iron the toothing issues at the position. It just drives me mad.


Two things I hate in rugby union beyond description: aping after league, and playing players outside of their natural position. Especially considering, that they all admit they hate it, when they’re allowed to speak freely. Owen Farrell spent 80% of his international career at 12, saying every time when asked, that he is a 10 and prefers to play at 10. Those players are literally held at a gunpoint: play out of position, or no national jersey for you.

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