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Donal Lenihan's URC quarter-finals verdict

9 May 2026; Ciarán Frawley of Leinster is tackled by Reinhard Nothnagel of Lions during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Lions at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Leinster recorded a 31-7 wins over the Lions when the sides last met three weeks ago

Glasgow seeded one and Connacht just snuck in on the last day at eight but arguably they are playing the best rugby in the league at the moment. They've won seven of their last nine games. A big blow for them is Sean Jansen - who has been brilliant all season and may well make Andy Farrell's squad for the summer - is out.

Paul Boyle comes in; he's been outstanding off the bench. An interesting sideshow here is that Stuart Lancaster's son Dan is out-half for Glasgow. He's been playing brilliantly and a lot feel he may get called up to the Scottish squad.

I think home advantage is huge. Glasgow have 12 Scottish internationals in their side and I think they are capable of winning, but they have to keep the pressure on throughout.

Glasgow to advance.

It has been a topsy-turvy season for Munster but they fought hard to get into the quarter-finals. A home win against the Lions got them there last time out. I'm a bit surprised that they only left for South Africa on Wednesday.

They are basing themselves in Johannesburg and are going up to Pretoria today; that's not the best preparation for playing at altitude in my view.

Once again they are without Jack Crowley and Tadhg Beirne, their two big talisman, so I think they'll have their work cut out. Bulls are difficult to beat in Loftus Versfeld and I feel it will be Munster's last game of the season.

Leinster beat the Lions a couple of weeks ago, a decent scoreline but the Lions were in the game with ten minutes to go. They are still in Ireland since their defeat to Munster two weeks ago. It was cheaper for them to stay here rather than fly back to South Africa and come back up again. The Lions will be keen for the match.

Leinster had that shattering defeat last weekend and sometimes you are better off getting back on the horse. I think Leo Cullen has changed the side to give it a bit of fresh impetus. Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne are in and Sam Prendergast gets an opportunity at out-half.

As for James Lowe, there is a lot of speculation as to whether he'll be at Leinster next season; if they lose it could be his last game. But I don't see them losing. It is going to be hard for them but they are capable of beating the Lions and making the semi-finals.

Donal Lenihan was speaking on Morning Ireland

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