How appropriate the two sides finishing first and second in the regular season contest the Guinness Pro 12 final in Belfast next Saturday. Like the league, both semi-finals went to the wire with a single score separating the teams after two great clashes over the weekend.

Saturday’s Champions Cup final proved a far better game than anticipated in advance. 

Before looking forward to the inaugural Champions Cup final at Twickenham on Saturday, I feel compelled to examine the implications of an announcement last week that attracted minimal attention on this side of the world.

Leinster will be burdened by massive regrets this week as they somehow attempt to patch themselves up for an unforgiving five-day turnaround with the season-defining outing against Ulster in Belfast on Friday night.

With that tantalising World Cup clash between Ireland and France cemented in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but watch the respective performances of Clermont Auvergne and Leinster over the weekend in the context of that crucial Pool D encounter.

Saturday’s quarter-final was Leinster’s 19th knockout game over the last four seasons... the fact they won 15 of those shows their understanding of what’s required on these occasions, writes Donal Lenihan.

The three areas where Leinster will be challenged by their English visitors today:

On a week when Paul O’Connell worked wonders for the reputation of grizzled second-row forwards, another great presence in Munster rugby passed away peacefully after a long period of illness.

After last weekend, the World Cup just can’t come soon enough.