Countdown to the RaboDirect PRO12 Final: 6 days to go

After a league and European cup double last term, Leinster handed themselves a tough act to follow this season - and they had a new man in charge.

With head coach Joe Schmidt taking the reins of the Irish national team, Australian Matt O'Connor was placed in charge at the RDS.

And he hit the ground running, guiding the Leinstermen to a 42-19 victory at Scarlets on the opening day of the RaboDirect PRO12 season.

With 17 wins from 22 regular season games in the competition, the Boys in Blue topped the table and after semi-final victory against Ulster, they are still on track to retain the title.

Away from the RaboDirect PRO12, European Challenge Cup victory last year set a benchmark for Leinster and they looked well-placed to go one better this time.

O'Connor's side blitzed their European Cup pool, completing a double over both fellow RaboDirect PRO12 outfit Ospreys and French side Castres Olympique as well as romping to a 40-7 victory at eventual Challenge Cup champions Northampton Saints.

However, they fell at the quarter final stage, beaten 29-14 at the home of reigning champions Toulon, who went on to retain the crown on Saturday.

But Glasgow's visit offers Leinster the opportunity to complete a full RaboDirect PRO12 season unbeaten at home - and become the first team to ever retain the title.


6 days to go - Leinster fly-half Jimmy Gopperth has scored 14 points or more on six occasions in his debut RaboDirect PRO12 campaign


With the frustration of back-to-back RaboDirect PRO12 semi-final defeats ringing in their ears, Glasgow Warriors have been ruthless in their pursuit to go one better.

Gregor Townsend's side have collected more wins than anyone in the competition, stacking up nine in a row to date to take their season tally to 19.

A disappointing European Cup campaign, including back-to-back defeats against fellow RaboDirect PRO12 outfit Cardiff Blues, left them to focus on the league.

And, after putting together a club record run heading into the play-offs, the Warriors have every reason to head to the RDS on May 31 in high spirits.

In 11 regular season games on the road, Townsend's side collected nine wins - both defeats were within a margin of three points - and boast the best away record in the competition.

Heading into their first ever RaboDirect PRO12 Final, Glasgow meet a Leinster side appearing in their fifth straight season-ending showpiece - but it could go either way.

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