Not where they want to be.
On paper, a relatively easy, 37-19, win for Leinster against Glasgow this afternoon, but the home side earned it with a dogged showing from minute one until minute 80.
Player of the Match Ryan Baird typified the Leinster performance, as well the likes of Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, and James Lowe.
The Blues will now meet the winner of the Bulls vs Sharks in next week’s URC play-off final.
One man under pressure to put in an improved showing from last week’s error-strewn win over the Scarlets, was the ever-scrutinised Sam Prendergast.
And for the most part he delivered, with nice touches in the build-up to Leinster’s tries, marshalling the team well, while his kicking out of hand was up to scratch.
However, arguably the most crucial aspect of his game went missing, as he finished the game with just 3/7 for his goal kicking.
Before the game his URC goal-kicking was at 77%, while Ireland’s other option at out-half, Jack Crowley, is just over 50%.
Both men have been poor off the tee for Ireland this season, and unless either or both can improve in this area, it may come back to bite them when it matters most; in a crunch Six Nations game, or even worse, a World Cup.
In terms of alternative options, it would be prudent for the management to bring in another option to the fold, a player who doesn’t play at No 10 and can take the pressure off Crowley and Prendergast.
The obvious choice would be Garry Ringrose, who was one of the finest schools kickers ever, and with what we believe was his one-and-only goal kick for Ireland, out on the touchline against the USA in 2017, he nailed it.
