Leinster have failed in their quest of making another Champions Cup Final after a narrow 37-34 loss to Northampton. But in truth the margin of defeat could have been greater only Leinster managed to score a late score to close the gap.
Northampton learned from last season and also after beating Munster in Thomond Park they learned very quickly that day how to win on the big away day. Phil Dowson, Sam Vesty and Lee Briers had there charges well drilled and ready for the challenge. They scored 5 tries with Tommy Freeman, Fin Smith and Alex Mitchell leading from the front.
Leinster will wonder about that final play and how they didn’t cross the try line but I think in all honesty they were well beaten on the day and although the score board says different. Leo Cullen and his coaching staff will have plenty to sift through while preparing for Zebre in the URC.
It is another loss for this group at the latter stages of the Champions Cup. Questions will be asked as to why Jordie Barrett was on the bench for the semi-final as he has been sparingly used since his debut against Bristol from the bench in December.
Back to Saints who will now look to win a second Champions Cup title 25 years on from winning their first in Twickenham against Munster in a tight contest that saw full back for the day Paul Grayson kick 3 penalties to Ronan O Gara’s two to win 9-8.
They celebrated that victory early in the campaign and you have to think that squad will have pride of place in Cardiff on the 24th of May against Bordeaux Begles.
It is the Saints side of 2024/2025 that has seen them through and they will take note of the fact it is a quarter of century since that last win and will want to write their name in Saints history.
Leinster for their part will go back to the drawing board again and will try for a 4th season in a row to focus on winning a first URC title since 2021.
This one like the rest will sting and it will take a huge effort from the squad to lift it for the last few games and then a home quarter final but that is what they need to do and there is no room for sentiment currently as they still have a shot at winning the URC and that will at least go some small way to start the recovery from the loss to Northampton.
Leinster will know they need to win something to justify the out lay on the likes of Slimani, Snyman and Barrett along with next season’s recruit Reiko Ioane.
Yes they have strength in depth in all departments but this particular group hasn’t crossed that winning threshold in blue and while talk of 4 previous Champions Cup titles and a few URC winning sides is still relevant but only just at this point, time is defiantly now for this group.
This group in the main hasn’t got that amount of serial winners and they will know only too well that another loss at URC level will mean questions will grow louder and Leo Cullen will hope his charges can start answering those queries from Saturday onwards.
The investment and work being done by Leinster is admired world over but that should not stop questions being asked as they potentially face a 5th season without a trophy. Those questions will remain until they answer them.
The work of healing a very open wound begins on Saturday and let’s see how the group bounces back and of course they will not have club captain Caelan Doris to lead from the front as he has gone under the knife to deal with a shoulder injury.
A big couple of weeks are now ahead for all 4 provinces but the spot light will most defiantly be on Munster v Ulster on Friday evening along with Leinster and Connacht’s games on Saturday…..