Leinster 52-0 Glasgow: Three things we learned

Warriors blown away

After watching Leinster's ruthless destruction of Harlequins in the last-16, it was clear Glasgow had a mountain to climb in Dublin.

Just about everyone expected a home win, probably a comfortable one, but the hope was the URC champions would put up more of a fight than the English Premiership side had mustered in their 62-0 defeat.

As it was, Glasgow were blown away in a very similar fashion. They were bettered - and battered - in every single aspect of the game and failed to fire a shot worthy of the name.

At 33-0 at half-time, the game was done. In truth, it was done after 22 minutes when Adam Hastings was sin-binned, and a penalty try was awarded to put Leinster 14-0 to the good.

We knew it required something close to a miracle for Glasgow to progress. Missing so many key players through injury and suspension, they were made to look a pale imitation of the side we know they can be.

Levels to the game

Franco Smith was typically philosophical after the defeat, preferring to heap praise on Leinster rather than chastise his own team.

Smith described the Irish side as the best club team he has ever seen, and he's seen a few. Better than Ireland, even.

What was underlined in the most emphatic terms is that Glasgow, with the limitations they have in terms of finance and resources, will always struggle to trouble the back end of the Champions Cup.

Three times they have made the quarter-finals, and three times they have been hammered by sides assembled at far greater expense – twice by Saracens in their prime, and now by Leinster.

Smith made some interesting comments to BBC Scotland after the game about the need to understand "how many people must be in our building" to compete with the top teams.

With the likes of Tom Jordan, Henco Venter and, reportedly, Jack Mann leaving Scotstoun in the summer, the question is whether the SRU can continue to match Smith's ambition against a background of financial cost-cutting.

Dublin drubbing can't define season

You do wonder if the Leinster/Ireland factor has become an insurmountable psychological hurdle for Scottish players. Given the repeated beatings they have taken at the hands of the same players over and over again in recent years, how could it not?

There are emotional scars that come with a heavy defeat, especially in such a high-profile game. It's an inevitable part of sport.

What Warriors must ensure is that this drubbing in Dublin does not come to define their season.

They have bounced back from big disappointments before. A Challenge Cup final thrashing at the hands of Toulon – another horror show at the Aviva Stadium – in Smith's first season was bleak, but the head coach has cited it as a reference point for the team in their run to become URC champions last season.

There is still plenty to play for this season, not least defending that crown. To do that, you would imagine at some stage they will have to face the might of Leinster once again in Dublin.

The hope is they can quickly banish the memories of this rout. If not, should the sides meet again in a potential URC final, Warriors will be beaten before they set foot on the park.