Another shock and awe performance by Leinster as they crushed Glasgow Warriors at the Aviva Stadium.

Fresh from last week's 62-0 last 16 victory over Harlequins, Leinster underlined their credentials as Champions Cup winners in waiting by hammering the reigning URC champions.

Leo Cullen's side romped to a 31-0 lead at the break thanks to five tries with Jordie Barrett, restored to the starting line-up after coming off the bench last week, at his top class best on both sides of the ball.

They had six different try scorers on the night and scored eight tries in total. Sam Prendergast also had another stand-out display at No.10 and the province can look forward to the semi-final at the Aviva, against Northampton or Castres, with sky-high confidence.

Glasgow came to Dublin in confident form themselves - they are second only to Leo Cullen's side in the URC standings - but their dangerous attack was shut down from the start.

Leinster bossed the early stages and if they were a little frustrated not to get on the scoreboard in the opening 10 minutes, with a Barrett try chalked off for a knock-on by Garry Ringrose, but they kept their pedal to the metal.

Their reward came soon after, after Barrett delayed his pass and Tommy O'Brien - making his first start in Europe - finding Max Deegan in the corner. Sam Prendergast converted.

Skipper for the night Jack Conan was forced off for an injury suffered in the build-up, with regular skipper Caelan Doris replacing him, and Leinster needed Barrett to win a sprint with Glasgow full-back Kyle Rowe to deny the Warriors a try.

But a penalty try followed in the 23rd minute with Warriors' out-half Adam Hastings's deliberate knock-on of Ronan Kelleher's pass to Ringrose prevented a try and earned the No.10 time in the sin-bin.

Leinster scored two tries in his absence. Lowe scored in the left corner after Jamison Gibson-Park found him in space with a long pass, then O'Brien got over on the other side with a superb finish.

There was still time for Hugo Keenan to get in on the act, racing onto Prendergast's grubber to score and Prendergast's conversion pushed the score over the 30-point mark five minutes from the interval.

The hosts refused to let up, containing Glasgow's early second half push to score a sixth in the 47th minute through Ringrose.

Rónan Kelleher's turnover set up the opportunity, Josh van der Flier found Ringrose and the centre turned on the afterburners to force his way over the Glasgow line, with Prendergast adding the extras.

Robbie Henshaw came on for Ringrose to make his 100th appearance for the province and the seventh try followed before the hour. Dan Sheehan tumbled over in the corner off van der Flier's assist, and Prendergast's conversion made it 47-0.

The intensity finally lowered a little in the final quarter but Leinster still managed one more try, with replacement out-half Ross Byrne's crossfield kick finding Deegan and the back row went over in the left corner for his second try of the night.

Another superb effort by Leinster that sets them up very nicely for their latest trip to the last four.

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Key Events

Michael Scully

Champions Cup debutant Diarmuid Mangan gives his reaction to the win

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Michael Scully

Josh van der Flier on Leinster's defensive effort

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Michael Scully

Leo Cullen's reaction


"We're really pleased, a big thanks to the crowd that turned out as well. I think there's a lot of desire to go out there and perform for Leinster.

"These games are magic, and hopefully everyone buys in and comes back for the semi-final. It's nice to play on Friday and it gives you the chance to watch the other games over the weekend, which is great.

"You try to get that bit of freshness, the guys who came in added in their own unique ways and a great 80 minutes overall.

"The set piece was the starting point of it and there were a couple of times Glasgow came close to breaching us, but the lads kept them out.

"Lots of real positives there but it's on to the next round and our attention turns to Easter Saturday here against Ulster.

"We have to focus on what we're good at and make sure we keep going over that.

"We want to finish on top of the pile in the URC, which leads to knock-on consequences, in a perfect world we'd rather be at home here or at Croke Park.

"Ulster have had a weekend off, I'm sure Richie will be making plans with his coaches up there and we know when they come down they'll be ready for a battle."

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Michael Scully

200 not out

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Michael Scully

Robbie Henshaw talks to Premier Sports after his 100th Leinster cap

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Michael Scully

Andy Farrell would have enjoyed a lot of those Leinster performances tonight

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Michael Scully

A look at Leinster's final try

Max Deegan finished the scoring with Leinster's eighth five-pointer

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Michael Scully

Max Deegan praises Jacques Nienaber's defensive system

Deegan, who scored two tries, believes Leinster are strong as they have ever been in terms of squad depth and is loving the defensive system that is shutting out teams of late.

"Definitely the hurt of the last few finals is in the team, but definitely Jacques, it's about mindset, everyone is stepping up and it's a squad effort, everyone is stepping up," he said.

"You've got full licence (to put pressure on) within reason, you can be shooting up like an idiot, but it's unbelievably enjoyable to play in.

"I feel this squad is as good as it's ever been, one to 40 almost anyone can step in and do a really good job, everyone is pushing themselves so hard and playing to a really high standard."

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Michael Scully

Jack Conan on his injury

Conan was the Leinster skipper tonight but had to come off early with a neck injury, which he picked up in the build-up to the first try.

"I just took a whack to my neck during the week and another during the warm-up, so I knew I was on borrowed time, it was disappointing to come off," said the No. 8.

"It was a good outing for us but there were still a lot of learnings. I think our defensive system is something that really clicked this year, it took a while to come to terms with it last year but you can see it out there, it's something we've grown and we absolutely love it, we have the athletes to dominate collisions and it gives everyone a lift."


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Michael Scully

Jordie Barrett's thoughts

Asked about backing up the Quins win with another big one against Glasgow, the player of the match said: "That was the question that Leo posed to us this week and I guess it's easy for a side to get up and do it once, and it shows character to do it twice in six days.

"We had a good week because we respect Glasgow. We prepared really well and had to work really hard for it in the first half.

"Complacency can seep in but that's our challenge and if you care enough, you won't let that be. It's nice to give the hard work a transfer when it matters."

Asked about the possibility of Leinster winning a fifth Champions Cup on the back of these performances, Barrett replied: "Look, we'll cross that bridge when it comes, we've just got to get better each week, we'll bounce back into the URC now and prepare for next week.

"The 52 points are nice but the zero is extra pleasing as well. We showed a lot of control, but we've got to keep getting better."

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Michael Scully

Game over

Scintillating final attack but Joe McCarthy knocks on and it finishes 52-0.

So that's 114-0 on aggregate over 160 minutes in the Champions Cup knock-outs in the space of six days.

Phenomenal effort by Leinster as Glasgow are their latest victims in the tournament. The semi-final awaits.

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Michael Scully

Glasgow free

The visitors are rewarded at the scrum.

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Michael Scully

Leinster penalty

Magic pass from Barrett to the right wing for O'Brien, Leinster move it back to the left side and Glasgow go off their feet trying to win breakdown ball.

Sheehan thought he was in for a second try but there was a forward pass from McGrath at the short lineout.

Into the last minute now.

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KEY EVENT

Try Leinster!

52-0 now as Deegan goes over in the corner from a crossfield kick from Ross Byrne.

The out-half is just wide with the tough conversion.

77 minutes gone.

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Michael Scully

Jordie Barrett is player of the match

The right decision for sure - the Kiwi has been world-class tonight.

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Michael Scully

Leinster penalty

The Jacques Nienaber plan in full effect there as Leinster constantly drove back Glasgow who were in possession but going nowhere. Ross Byrne penalty in midfield.

Hold on, Luke Pearce is going to take a look at an incident.

Jordie Barrett was hit at the ruck by Tom Jordan and the officials are reviewing it. Luke Pearce decides it was a low danger action and it's a penalty back where he was hit. Leinster play on with the penalty they had inside Glasgow's half and the replacement out-half finds touch about 10 metres from Glasgow's line.

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Michael Scully

Penalty Glasgow

Another kick into Leinster's 22 as Glasgow's replacement scrum-half Ben Ashfar is impeded at the ruck. Lineout won by Glasgow

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Michael Scully

Glasgow penalty

Caelan Doris is pinged inside Leinster's half and Hastings again turns down the three points, kicking to around 8ight metres from Leinster's line. Lineout Glasgow.

Leinster win it in the air through Euro debutant Mangan and Luke McGrath clears it, though not very far. Glasgow have another lineout inside Leinster's 22.

Glasgow win the lineout this time but can't hold onto possession at the maul and Tommy O'Brien clears downfield to touch.

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Michael Scully

Injury delay

Scotland international Matt Fagerson has suffered a serious looking injury and it going to be carried off on a stretcher.

Sebastian Cancilliere is on for him.

67 minutes gone. The game has resumed.

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Michael Scully

Glasgow lineout

Jordie Barrett takes a pass from Byrne and grubber kicks to the 5m line.

Joe McCarthy knocked on as he tried to win the loose ball after Max Deegan had caused disruption in the air.

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Michael Scully

Euro debut

Diarmuid Mangan is on in the 63rd minute for RG Snyman. What a moment for the young forward, who wins his first lineout in Champions Cup action.

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Michael Scully

A look at Garry Ringrose's excellent five-pointer

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Michael Scully

Byrne for Prendergast

Ross Byrne is on and Prendergast comes off after another really good performance.

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Michael Scully

140 not out

Remarkably it is now 140 minutes of knock-out rugby without Leinster conceding a point.

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Michael Scully

Try Leinster!

Seven up for the province as Dan Sheehan gets his ninth try in the last eight games, a brilliant comeback from his ACL. Van der Flier provided the assist and the hooker tumbled over in the corner to dot down in celebration.

Andy Farrell is watching on and will be mightily impressed by all of this.

Prendergast nails the conversion. 47-0, 59 minutes on the clock.

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Michael Scully

Penalty Leinster

Van der Flier goes on a charge through midfield but can't pick a pass, but Glasgow concede a penalty for offside and Prendergast kicks the penalty deep into Glasgow's 22 for the lineout.

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Michael Scully

Leinster lineout

That blitz defence used to full effect again as Hastings is carried into touch by Barett and co.

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Michael Scully

Glasgow penalty

The maul was collapsed by Joe McCarthy and Caelan Doris is told to watch out for the penalties close to the Leinster line that's a couple in quick succession.

Another lineout for Glasgow 5m out.

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Michael Scully

Henshaw's 100

Robbie Henshaw replaces Garry Ringrose and the Athlone man is on for his 100th cap for Leinster.

Gibson-Park makes way for Luke McGrath and Tadhg Furlong comes off, with Rabah Slimani on.

Glasgow have another penalty advantage as they sustain an attack this time.

54th minute.

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Michael Scully

Penalty Glasgow

The Warriors run the penalty quickly but Hugo Keenan is then pinged for a deliberate knock-on.

Glasgow have a lineout on Leinster's 5m line.

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