Glasgow head coach Franco Smith hailed Leinster as the greatest club team he has ever seen after watching the Irish side end Warriors' Champions Cup hopes in devastating fashion.

The URC champions were completely outgunned as Leinster ran in eight tries in a 52-0 quarter-final victory in Dublin.

It followed a similar 62-0 destruction of Harlequins in the previous round and Smith says Leinster are simply operating on a different level from all their rivals.

And when asked if this Leinster side is better than anything he has witnessed in the club game, Smith told BBC Scotland: "Definitely, hands down.

"I've been coaching since 2007 in the Heineken Cup and hands down, it's by a long shot.

"Not just the fact they have the best players. Most of them have been in the number one seeded team for a long period. They've played more than one World Cup.

"They come back and they play together at the club. You can see that. They've been kept together for a long time.

"A lot of money has been spent. Do they play better than Ireland? Yes, I think so.

"If you replace Bundee Aki with Jordie Barrett and you have the likes of RG Snyman in there and Rabah Slimani, there's some good foreigners that's added value when they are still developing young Irish players.

"I think if you look at Bordeaux and Toulouse, they are also teams that have some big hitters. From a financial perspective, it is tough to compete with that budget."

The game in Dublin was effectively over after 25 minutes, and questions turned to if Leinster could 'nil' a team for the second time in a week.

It wasn't just a yes, but a resounding one. Even in the 79th minute, 52 points and eight tries to the good, the blitz defence was racing up on the Glasgow line like it was the second minute.

As head coach Cullen said: "This group is hungry and motivated and that's what we want to see".

Spearheaded by the impressive Sam Prendergast, Leinster will now face either Northampton or Castres in the semi-finals, and on the evidence of the last two weeks they will be favourites to reach the final.

However, there is one lingering question over Leinster - and that's the ability in the biggest moments.

It's strange to say it for a team littered with Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand internationals, but their trophy 'drought' stretches back four years.

They have lost the last three European finals, and haven't even lifted the domestic United Rugby Championship title in that time.

That could cause natural worry as another potential decider looms ever-closer, but former Leinster and Ireland fly-half Ian Madigan says "this year feels different".

England: Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach; Harrison, Hunt; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Muir, Talling, Ward, Aldcroft (capt), Kabeya, Matthews.

Replacements: Cokayne, Clifford, Bern, Galligan, Feaunati, L Packer, Aitchison, Rowland.

Ireland: Flood; McGann, Dalton, Higgins, Costigan (capt); O'Brien, Lane; O'Dowd, Jones, Djougang; Tuite, Wall; Hogan, King, Wafer.

Replacements: Moloney, McCarthy, Haney, Campbell, Moore, Reilly, Fowles, Elmes Kinlan.

Referee: Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau (fra)

TMO: Andrew McMenemy (sco)

LOVELAND, Colo. -- For the first time in 1,020 or so days, Gabriel Landeskog has some fresh game tape to examine. Game tape of him hitting players, taking hits, being called for a penalty and even putting someone in a headlock.

"A headlock," he said with a grin Friday night, "wasn't necessarily planned when I woke up this morning."

His emotional journey back from a serious knee injury took center ice as he suited up in a professional game for the first time in nearly three years when he joined the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League.

The longtime Colorado Avalanche captain is on loan to the Eagles as part of a minor league conditioning assignment. He participated in the morning skate Friday at Blue Arena, and was given the green light to make his Eagles debut against the Henderson Silver Knights.

He went through pregame drills -- without his helmet so his blond hair was easy to spot -- to cheers and was serenaded with chants of "Landy, Landy, Landy" just before puck drop. The fans cheered when he left the ice after his first shift, which lasted about 46 seconds, and again after he went to the penalty box, with his image shown on the big screen (he waved to the crowd).

He soaked in every moment over the course of an evening filled with checks, spills, a hooking penalty called on him and all the applause.

"I'm excited about what the future looks like for me," Landeskog said after the Eagles' 2-0 win in which he played just under 15 minutes.

Landeskog received praise from several Silver Knights players, including one who told him before a faceoff, "It's great to have you back."

"It's what makes this game so great -- you go out and put somebody in a headlock, and then the next faceoff, somebody says something nice to you," Landeskog said. "It's pretty cool. The support, even from players around the league, and obviously here as well, it means a lot."

This was a pricey ticket, too (around $200). His just-unveiled Eagles No. 92 sweater was coveted as well, with fans waiting in a long line that snaked around the concourse for a chance to purchase one. His Avalanche jersey was a popular sight all over the venue.

Landeskog has been sidelined since he helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022 because of a knee injury and subsequent surgeries.

If all goes well with his Loveland stint, the 32-year-old gritty forward from Sweden could be activated for Game 1 of Colorado's first-round playoff series. The Avalanche enter the postseason locked into the Central Division's No. 3 seed and will open on the road.

"I have high expectations of myself. I'm also realistic in knowing what I've gone through, and how much time is missed," said Landeskog, who has been nearly a point-a-game player in six playoff runs with the Avalanche. "I don't want to look too far ahead. But I do know that I feel good today, hopefully I feel good tomorrow and we can keep working. I can keep practicing and we'll see where it takes us."

This was just another step along what's been an arduous journey.

"I'm excited for him and his family," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Friday before the team left for its two-game trip to California to close out the regular season. "To finally get back on the ice in a game situation, I'm just thrilled for him."

Some of his Avalanche teammates, such as Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, made the roughly 50-mile trek north to Loveland in order to catch a glimpse of No. 92 in an Eagles sweater. MacKinnon and Makar were among several players skipping Colorado's final trip to get some rest before the playoffs.

"He put a lot of work in, a lot of time," defenseman Erik Johnson, a longtime friend of Landeskog, recently said. "It's something he didn't have to put his body through but wanted to for the team. To have him get this far in his recovery is exciting for us."

Landeskog's injury dates back to the 2020 "bubble" season when he was accidentally sliced above the knee by the skate of Makar in a playoff game against Dallas. Landeskog eventually underwent a cartilage transplant procedure on May 10, 2023, and has been on long-term injured reserve.

The procedure was similar to the one performed on Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball in March 2023. Ball returned to the court for a preseason game in October, which hinted at a possible timeline for Landeskog's return.

Landeskog's comeback has been the subject of a documentary series called "A Clean Sheet: Gabe Landeskog" that's airing on TNT and TruTV.

"It felt a little bit surreal driving up here for morning skate," Landeskog said. "[The game] couldn't come fast enough. I was really excited. It's an odd feeling when you've been looking forward to something for so long, and then all of a sudden you get to do it."

As for the plan moving forward, Landeskog's not fully sure. He might play again Saturday -- if his knee feels up to it.

For now, he's just appreciative of all the support.

"I never thought this was going to get to this point and get this big and get this much attention," Landeskog said. "I was just trying to fight my way back, and here we are.

"It was a fun night. Now, I'm tired. I'm looking forward to sleep."

NEW ORLEANS -- Saints quarterback Derek Carr has a shoulder injury that could put his status for the 2025 season in jeopardy, according to multiple reports Friday.

The Saints are scheduled to begin their offseason training program Monday. The injury now puts Carr's attendance in question as the team begins its first 2025 preparations under new coach Kellen Moore.

Carr has not played a game since he broke several bones in his non-throwing hand in a Week 14 matchup against the New York Giants. He missed seven games total in 2024 due to oblique and hand injuries, and the Saints started Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener in his place.

Carr last dealt with a shoulder injury in 2023, when he sprained his AC joint at the beginning of the season, but he did not miss any games.

Carr has two years remaining on the contract he signed in 2023, but a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that he was open to testing the market earlier in the offseason. The Saints ended up restructuring his contract instead, effectively tying him to the team through the 2025 season.

The Saints hold the ninth pick in this month's NFL draft and have four quarterbacks on the roster: Carr, Haener, Rattler and Ben DiNucci. They currently have about $27 million in cap space available if they wanted to sign another quarterback.

NFL Network first reported news on Carr's shoulder injury.

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- After two rounds at Augusta National, the 79th Masters tournament has delivered the goods.

Fourteen of the top 25 players in the world find themselves within six shots of the lead heading into the weekend, and the two betting favorites -- Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy -- are just three and two shots back, respectively.

Justin Rose continues atop the tournament, but finishing the job will not be easy. Some of the sport's best are chasing him.

What will a stacked leaderboard bring?

Mark Schlabach: There are myriad options with eight golfers within three shots of the lead and 11 only four behind Rose. Could we get the Rory vs. Scottie showdown on Sunday that everyone wanted? Could it be Rory or Scottie carrying the PGA Tour's flag against LIV Golf League captain Bryson DeChambeau in the final 18 holes?

When you have a leaderboard this loaded -- Viktor Hovland, Jason Day, Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Åberg are also within five shots of Rose -- there are endless possibilities.

"It's exciting. It's the Masters," said three-time green jacket winner Phil Mickelson, who won't be around for the final two rounds after missing the cut at 5 over. "The best players seem to rise. It's going to be an exciting weekend."

Paolo Uggetti: I think Augusta National, as it's prone to do, has brought out the best in the best of the world over two days. If you look at players who missed the cut, there isn't a truly big name (outside of maybe Brooks Koepka) that couldn't make it to the weekend. That means the course has done its job of identifying who is playing the best golf right now and also that the top players in the world brought their A-game to the year's first major.

It has been striking to see the incredible moments and elite shotmaking we've already witnessed. Outside of Rose's opening-round 64, no round has looked straightforward or easy.

"This course takes it out of you physically and mentally, more so than most other golf courses," McIlroy said. "We've got 36 holes to go on a very, very tough golf course."

Despite the wet weather Monday night and Thursday overnight into Friday, Augusta has held up incredibly well, retaining its firmness and giving players plenty to think about as they chart their way around the course. The course should continue to get firmer and play faster come the weekend, and a warm Sunday forecast should set up a fantastic finish.

"This place is so good at getting the golf course in the condition or setting it up properly and not letting the weather get away from them, which is a surprise to nobody," Justin Thomas said. "But I feel like with how the weather looks this weekend, it's going to be very challenging."

Who outside the top 10 has the best chance to still win?

Schlabach: There are a couple of former Masters champions, Hideki Matsuyama (2021) and Patrick Reed (2018), lurking just outside the top 10 at 3 under. Obviously, they both know what it takes to get it done on the weekend at Augusta National, and I wouldn't be surprised if either one of them makes a charge over the final 36 holes.

Matsuyama, the only Japanese man to win a major championship, would be even further up the leaderboard if he hadn't made a double bogey on the par-5 13th in the first round. He had an eagle on No. 2 on Friday and added four birdies and two bogeys to post a 4-under 68 in the second round.

Matsuyama's putter will have to heat up for him to do it. He lost more than three strokes to the field on the greens over the first 36 holes, according to DataGolf.com. But his iron play and driver have been lights-out; he gained 4.43 strokes on approach and 6.52 strokes tee to green in the second round.

Reed helped Augusta State win national championships in men's golf in 2010 and 2011. Then he held off Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, McIlroy and others to slip on a green jacket in 2018. Reed had three straight top-25s in the LIV Golf League coming into Augusta National, where he always seems to play well. He finished in the top 12 in four of his past five starts here.

Reed is in contention even though his putter has betrayed him so far.

Uggetti: There are a lot of guys tied for 12th place at 3-under who are intriguing, but I'm going to go a bit further down and zero in on two-time major champion Xander Schauffele, who is tied for 17th after shooting 3-under Friday and sitting just six shots back of Rose.

Schauffele is not in midseason form after missing a handful of early-season tournaments with a rib injury, but his game is clearly still there. The 2024 Open and PGA champion gained nearly four strokes on the field with his approach play Friday and is fifth in the field in strokes gained: approach, per DataGolf.

"I think I can hit the shots. Confidence is a tender thing. I'm going to have to build that up," Schauffele said. "It's not going to just -- as much as I'd like to wake up and feel like last year, that's just not how it goes. I'm starting to hit some really nice shots, and that helps the confidence."

As Schauffele pointed out, his putter hasn't exactly helped the cause. He's losing almost a full stroke to the field with the putter, which will need to catch some heat if he's going to make a run on the weekend. But after winning two of the past three majors, Schauffele's game seems capable of doing just that, even if he's not fully back to major form.

"I didn't shoot myself out of it," Schauffele said. "But I'm going to have to move on moving day."

Who has been the biggest surprise?

Schlabach: I'll go with Hovland, who is tied for ninth at 4 under. I have no doubt that Hovland is one of the most talented golfers in the world. He is a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour and captured the 2023 FedEx Cup.

Even though Hovland won the Valspar Championship on March 23, his first victory since going back-to-back at the 2023 BMW Championship and Tour Championship, his game has been a mess.

The Norwegian golfer is constantly searching for perfection and goes through swing coaches like patrons go through pimento cheese sandwiches at Augusta National.

Even after carding a 3-under 69 on Friday, which included six birdies and three bogeys, Hovland seemed nowhere close to being satisfied. On a scale of 1 to 10, he described his swing as a 6 or 6 right now.

"Just been kind of finding the old movement that I used to have in my golf swing, and it's becoming more and more natural," Hovland said. "My big right misses are becoming less and less, so it's easier for me to trust what I'm already doing when the majority of the time when I hit a shot I look up and the ball is going in a pretty nice direction. Then my body and mind can kind of calm down and just try to execute."

Hovland tied for seventh in the 2023 Masters, then missed the cut in three of four majors last year (he was solo third at the 2024 PGA Championship).

Before capturing the Valspar Championship, he had missed three straight cuts at the Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players. He still seemed lost in golf's wilderness.

He's obviously in a much better place now heading into the weekend.

"It's crazy," Hovland said. "You know, sometimes it doesn't quite feel right, but you're just able to match up the face and make the ball somehow start where you're looking, even though it didn't feel ideal, or it was different to what you used to do. But sometimes you get a nice week, and you can time it up nicely and you make a few putts, short side yourself, and instead of making bogey or double, you chip in and make a birdie. I mean, this game is silly."

Uggetti: It has to be Matt McCarty. No, not Denny McCarthy -- that's McCarty, no "h" in the name. The winner of the 2024 Black Desert Championship is a Korn Ferry alum who won three times in one season to earn his PGA Tour card. After winning in Utah last October, he earned his way into this year's Masters and now finds himself tied for sixth heading into the third round.

McCarty is probably a name you haven't heard much of, but he is making a name for himself this week. Though the Official World Golf Rankings have him at No. 52, DataGolf says McCarty is more like the 112th-best player in the world. In his debut at Augusta National, McCarty birdied his first two holes Thursday and carded 1 under, an impressive round for a first-timer.

His encore was even better. McCarty started Friday with a double bogey and a bogey but then proceeded to shoot 8-under over his next 15 holes, including four straight birdies. He finished at 5 under, just three shots behind the leader.

"I don't know, just kind of stuck with the game plan. I didn't let myself get too rattled," McCarty said. "Just stayed focused and didn't think about what happened earlier and kind of moved on, and it was good."

McCarty said that he knew he was hitting the ball well enough for a good score, but that his putter went cold Thursday. Once it heated up, there was no stopping him. He gained nearly four strokes on the field with his putting alone, according to DataGolf. More importantly, McCarty leads the entire field in strokes gained: approach this week.

"Obviously, this golf course is very difficult if you get out of position, but if you're hitting good shots and giving yourself some good looks, you can make some birdies out here," he said. "So it was fun."

With so many top names around him, odds are McCarty will slip down the leaderboard come the weekend. But between a hot putter and his elite approach game, that's a recipe that spells staying power.

DENVER -- Nikola Jokic will average a triple-double for the season, making the Denver star the third player in NBA history to pull off such a feat.

It became statistically certain Friday night when Jokic got his fourth assist in the Nuggets' 117-109 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. That assist was his 700th of the season -- so, even if he didn't get another before the end of the regular season Sunday, which would be his 70th game, he was assured of averaging no worse than 10.0 assists.

But Jokic did get another, and he finished Friday night with 12 assists -- to go with 26 points and 16 rebounds -- for his 34th triple-double of the season.

The other players to average a triple-double for a full season: Russell Westbrook, Jokic's current Denver teammate, and Basketball Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson. Westbrook did it four times -- 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 for Oklahoma City, as well as in 2020-21 for Washington -- and Robertson did it in the 1961-62 season for Cincinnati.

"It's nice. I didn't do that before," Jokic said postgame when asked about averaging a triple-double. "I don't know. I don't know what to say. It's good."

The assist that clinched it for Jokic came on a score by Christian Braun with less than a minute left in the first half. It was not originally credited; the box score was updated at halftime.

Jokic's 34th triple-double of the season is tied for the fourth most in a season in NBA history. Westbrook has the most with 42 in 2016-17. No other NBA player entered Friday with more than 10 this season.

"If he doesn't win the MVP, it's the greatest season of all time not to win the MVP," Nuggets interim coach David Adelman said of Jokic, a three-time winner of the award who is vying with Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the honor this season.

This will be the first time Jokic averages double digits in assists. His previous career best was in 2022-23, when he finished with 9.8 assists along with 24.5 points and 11.8 rebounds.

"When you have a guy like Jokic, who creates so much offense for his teammates, everyone's going to have really good looks if you don't do the right things," Minnesota coach Chris Finch said earlier this month.

Jokic is also assured of finishing this season averaging a career best in scoring and will likely end up with the second-best rebound average of his career, as well. He'll also set career highs this season in 3-pointers made and 3-point percentage.

Jokic needs 47 points in Denver's finale at Houston on Sunday to push his scoring average to 30.0. If that happens, it would be the third 30-point triple-double average in NBA history; Westbrook and Robertson both did that once.

Jokic has 164 regular-season triple-doubles for his career, second most in NBA history behind Westbrook's 203.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.