Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the United Rugby Championship match.
The United Rugby Championship semi-final brings together Leinster Rugby, the regular season winners, and reigning champions Glasgow Warriors. This encounter is expected to generate more interest across Europe than the other semi-final, which is more of an all-South African affair.
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby produced a dominant regular-season campaign, finishing with three more victories than any of their rivals. Their first-place finish was a step up from last year’s third, with just two defeats in 16 rounds—both occurring on the road during the spring. Excluding European Rugby Champions Cup fixtures, Leinster Rugby have remained unbeaten at home since 1 January 2024. Their latest victory came in the form of a 33:21 quarter-final win over Scarlets in the URC.
Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors also hosted their quarter-final, having locked in fourth place during the regular season. They faced a stiff test against Stormers, but came through impressively with a 36:18 win. Interestingly, during their title-winning run last year, Glasgow Warriors also finished fourth, although they recorded two more wins than this season. Away from home, however, the Warriors have shown some inconsistency. Their most recent fixture – and most recent loss – was on the road against Leinster Rugby. Despite battling hard, they came up short, losing 5:13 without earning a losing bonus point.
Leinster Rugby vs Glasgow Warriors Prediction
There’s pride at stake in defending a title. Leinster Rugby may enter the match as favourites, but the implied dominance feels overstated. While a home win remains the most probable outcome, the reigning champions are still very much in contention. We expect Glasgow Warriors to keep the margin of defeat close, likely within the same range as their meeting three weeks ago.
