Leinster v Glasgow Warriors: Danny Wilson says league table shows Leinster are beatable as coach makes big call at flanker

Leinster’s domination of the old Pro14 has burnished their reputation, but Danny Wilson was keen to highlight the fact that Glasgow Warriors’ opponents in the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals are anything but invincible.

Leo Cullen’s side have lost five times in the URC this season, with Ulster (twice), Cardiff, the Sharks and the Stormers all getting the better of last weekend’s beaten European cup finalists.

Wilson knows his own side are in midst of a wretched run of four straight losses and have an aversion to winning away games but the Glasgow coach still believes they can spring a surprise in Dublin on Saturday against the team that finished top of the URC.

It is exactly a year since the Warriors beat Leinster at Scotstoun in the Rainbow Cup and Wilson has this week been reminding his players.

“The last game of last season we beat Leinster here,” he said. “In recent times Glasgow have gone to Leinster and won against strong teams. Leinster are obviously a very good side, we know that and they finished top for a reason. But I told the boys that there was only three wins difference between us and Leinster in the league. They had 13 wins to our 10.

“The games they lost were lost late on in tight matches and that gives us confidence that they are not a side that are unbeaten. They were beaten again at the weekend. There is a whole host of reasons why I think we can go there and win.

“The challenge has been improving our away record. I’m sorry to harp on about it, but that is the reality and it is no bigger challenge than going to Leinster as underdogs. We have a free shot to go there and have a real crack in a game where maybe not a lot of people give us a huge chance.”

Glasgow disappointed in losing 28-11 to