Leinster could be better than Ireland, says Franco Smith after Glasgow hammered in Dublin

Glasgow Warriors coach Franco Smith is not alone in believing that Leinster could well be a better team than Ireland.

Smith was interviewed after his team, the defending United Rugby Championship champions, were overwhelmed 52-0 by Leinster in a Champions Cup quarter-final in Dublin.

The former Springbok centre said Leinster are “far ahead of everyone else” in the Champions Cup, although Toulouse might have something to say about that — the French giants play bitter rivals Toulon on Sunday.

“They were brilliant. I’m not even going to try make excuses from our side. It’s the first time that we have been completely bullied in every part of the game,” Smith said.

Leinster began the game with only one uncapped player, Tommy O’Brien, and on the bench there was only one player yet to play international rugby in Diarmuid Mangan.

“Obviously, we are disappointed but if you look at it, we were outplayed by an international team,” Smith said.

“They haven’t played much since the Six Nations so they are fresh, and they have a point to prove in Europe, but we still came with our best intent, and I can’t fault the effort of the boys. We were just absolutely outplayed in every facet of the game.

“I’m not the first coach to sit here and say that, other coaches have sat here and said how good they are. For me, we’ve been winning quite a bit and pushing the players’ boundaries and limits every week but today they found out what is still needed to be competitive in international rugby or the top end of club rugby.”

Leinster have been prolific since returning from South Africa and reintroducing their Ireland stars. They scored 62 points against English club Harlequins and bet Glasgow 52-0. That is 114 points in two games against top quality opposition.

“They are doing something really well and they deserve the compliments,” Smith added.

“I’m going to brush the result off. We rocked up, we just got beaten by a very strong team that is so far ahead of every club in the competition.”

Smith went on his post-match press conference to infer that Leinster are superior to the Ireland national team.

“There was a comment last week that they are better than Ireland, you replace Bundee Aki with Jordie Barrett it’s different and then you have a two-time World Cup winner in RG Snyman,” he said.

“It’s impressive, I think Leinster demands results like this with the quality and depth they have in the squad and if they don’t; then it is them who are not performing.

“Leinster sent a second squad went to South Africa and picked up points against full-strength South African teams. We need to put it into perspective.

"Have we missed players?

"Yes, but that is not an excuse. What I am excited about is that nine or 10 of our players got the opportunity to experience this.”