Not something we encourage or condone: Glasgow Warriors respond to Leinster dust-up

But things escalated after George Horne scored the final try of the night and there was a coming together of players, with coaches also involved.

Leinster were Glasgow’s nemesis last season, eliminating them from both the Champions Cup and the United Rugby Championship, at the quarter-final and semi-final stages, respectively.

They were heavy defeats too, with Leinster winning the European tie 52-0 at the Aviva Stadium last April then overcoming Glasgow 37-19 at the same venue in the URC a couple of months later.

The Warriors took a measure of revenge at the weekend, capitalising on the visitors’ indiscipline to win 38-17. Glasgow scored four tries while Leinster’s Brian Deeny and Rohan Kelleher were in the sin-bin and there were further yellow cards after Horne scored his second try of the night.

Making Scotstoun an uncomfortable place

This time it was a player from each side who was binned, as Glasgow’s Adam Hastings and Leinster’s Rabah Slimani took the long walk. Horne’s try sparked big celebrations to which some of the Irish side’s players took exception.

Things got out of hand and Glasgow assistant coach Nigel Carolan admitted there was a fine line to tread between respecting the opposition and making their home ground a tough place to come.

“It's not something we encourage or condone,” Carolan said of the scenes near the end. “If it happens, it happens. We just want to make sure that whatever team comes to Scotstoun, it's uncomfortable for them.

“That's the team we're trying to become. It's not about pushing and shoving, but just making it as uncomfortable for the opposition when they come here. Ideally, if we can bring that on the road with us as well, I think we can become a really great team.

“Maybe when a few of the staff start to get involved as well, it goes over the edge. We'll try and refrain from that if we can.

“As I said, it's just about trying to make it as uncomfortable and trying to be respectful of the opposition as well. We don't want to have to descend into chaos every time we score or they score. At the same time, it's important that we celebrate the small wins, no matter who we play against. If we can do that within the lines of respectfulness, then it's a good thing.”

The win strengthened Glasgow’s position at the top of the URC and they are at home again on Friday when they host Benetton. Most of their senior Scotland players are now back in training following the Six Nations and the club must now decide how many to bring back against Benetton. Glasgow will have one eye on the following week when they host the Bulls in the Champions Cup round of 16.

Big guns fit and available

“Sione [Tuipulotu], Huw Jones, Jack Dempsey, Matt Ferguson, Rory Darge, they're all fit and healthy and available,” said Carolan.

Kyle Steyn, the club captain, is still sidelined due to a stress fracture in his foot. He is out of the protective boot he was wearing but is still “a couple of weeks away,” according to Carolan. Jamie Dobie, meanwhile, has undergone surgery on the shoulder injury he sustained against England. “We hope to see Jamie before the end of the season, but he's a good few weeks away yet,” added Carolan.

Charlie Savala, who was signed by Glasgow last May but has yet to make his debut for the club, is close to fitness following an ACL injury.

“He got himself up to a level where we figured he might have been available for selection last week,” said Carolan. “[But a] minor setback has just put him out by a week or two. We still hope to have him involved as much as possible, but he's getting very close to returning.”