‘We just weren’t clinical’ – Dave Rennie

Colin Newboult
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Glasgow Warriors head coach Dave Rennie says that the team’s inability to take their opportunities cost them victory in the PRO14 final at Celtic Park.

The Scottish outfit succumbed 18-15 to Leinster, despite starting the game impressively and taking a 10-5 lead at one stage.

Matt Fagerson’s try and five points from the boot of Adam Hastings helped them into an early advantage, but the Irish province took command either side of the interval.

Leo Cullen’s men built an eight-point cushion, with Garry Ringrose and Cian Healy touching down and Johnny Sexton kicking two penalties for the Dubliners.

It proved to be too much to overturn in difficult conditions, even though Grant Stewart’s effort gave the Warriors hope, and Rennie was frustrated by the manner of the defeat.

“We just weren’t clinical in the end,” he said. “We had a couple of opportunities to maybe extend our lead at 7-5 and didn’t take them. In the end, it became a bit of an arm wrestle.

“I thought we had opportunities to play a bit more, we probably over-kicked. I’m not sure if we threw enough at them in the end.

“We finished off after a bit of pressure. We just didn’t do that enough. They were able to control the pace of the game and just hold on to it.

“Disappointed because we’re a better side that what we showed. You’ve got to give credit to Leinster, they defended really well and they’re a top side. Hopefully we come back stronger next year.”

There was one controversial moment in the match, however, as Rob Kearney was only sin-binned for taking Stuart Hogg out in the air.

There was debate as to whether Hogg landed on his head or shoulder, but referee Nigel Owens decided the latter.

Owens thought a yellow card was sufficient but the incident took the Glasgow full-back out of the contest, while Kearney returned to help his team to victory.

Rennie said: “No doubt there’ll be more to come. I’ll let officials decide that sort of stuff but we lost a player for the rest of the game, a pretty important player to us.”

It was a frustrating end to Hogg’s Warriors career with the full-back set to join Exeter Chiefs following the World Cup and Rennie paid tribute to the 26-year-old.

“He’s a great man and he’s been a massive servant of the club,” he added. “I know the boys will be disappointed for a lot of reasons but disappointed we couldn’t do it for him.”

Glasgow Warriors