Controversy-hit Saracens' late 27-24 victory win over Racing 92 has set up a repeat of the 2019 final, with Leinster to have home advantage at the Aviva Stadium.

While a win over Ospreys is well within their compass, the fact that holders Saracens can still advance as a best runner up will suit them just fine.

Listen to the radio sports bulletins and chats this week and Leinster have barely merited a mention.

England suffered an injury scare just three weeks before the Six Nations when Anthony Watson limped out of Bath’s 25-19 Heineken Champions Cup defeat against Harlequins.

All good things come to an end. The question, when it comes to Leinster’s current unbeaten run, is when.

The Champions Cup is supposed to be the pinnacle for professional club rugby in Europe.

Bath’s nightmare Heineken Champions Cup campaign continued as Stuart Hooper’s men were hammered 52-26 by Clermont Auvergne.

‘Tis the season for Christmas jumpers, blue Santa hats, and Leinster at the Aviva.

Ireland’s so-called ‘green sweep’ on the opening weekend of the Heineken Champions Cup was always unlikely to be replicated in Round 2 given the quality of the French opposition for the Irish quartet.

Simon Lewis previews the 20 teams aiming for glory as the Champions Cup kicks off this weekend.

Here's the route Ireland's provinces must navigate to emerge from their Champions Cup pools.

Your round-up of all the #RWC2019 news and more

Bundee Aki will head into a disciplinary hearing in Tokyo today to decide his World Cup fate with the backing of old friends from the Samoa camp as Ireland hoped for clemency for their centre ahead of this weekend’s quarter-finals.

Vaeluaga Steve Jackson believes his Samoan side will be all the more dangerous a proposition for Ireland this weekend precisely because of the fact that their involvement in this World Cup will end, regardless of the outcome, with the final whistle.

Joe Schmidt makes his final trip to the Aviva Stadium this afternoon as he takes charge of Ireland on home soil for the 34th and last time.

La Rochelle have lost on all 16 of their visits to Clermont in the club's history.

The importance of Munster getting a good start to their Champions Cup campaign was underlined by the release of the pool fixtures this morning.

Ronan O’Gara is still getting his bearings, and no surprise there.

Munster’s new-look brains trust will have little time to brace for their first intensive exam on the back of a Heineken Champions Cup draw in Lausanne yesterday which did the province few favours.

Munster have been left holding the short straw for next season's Heineken Champions Cup with the two-time champions plunged into the clichéd 'Pool of Death' after Wednesday's draw in Lausanne.

Munster received a tough draw against reigning champions Saracens in next season's Champions Cup pool stages.

Ronan O'Gara is on his way back to France, and a head coaching role with Top 14 over-achievers La Rochelle.

Defeats make doubters of us all.

Not everyone had faith that Leinster were capable of overcoming the challenge of Toulouse in Dublin and yet the European champions rose to the challenge on Easter Sunday to dispel all doubts and tee up a Heineken Champions Cup final to savour against Saracens.

Last week’s epic defeat of Clermont Auvergne has solidified the sense that Toulouse are back at their rollicking, unpredictable best.

Toulouse lock Richie Arnold says they will head to Dublin this weekend with a lot of confidence after seeing off Clermont Auvergne 47-44 in a top-of-the-table Top 14 clash on Sunday.

The consensus is that Leinster have not been the same ruthlessly efficient machine in Europe this season as last.

This time 12 months ago, Munster and Leinster felt bulletproof as they approached their respective Champions Cup semi-final deciders against Racing 92 and Scarlets, with both squads densely fortified with players from Ireland’s all-conquering Grand Slam team.

Toulouse joint-coach Regis Sonnes said that the manner in which they came from behind to oust Clermont Auvergne 47-44 in a 10-try thriller at Le Stadium sets them up perfectly for a crack at Leinster next weekend.

Conor Murray insists Munster will be in good hands with Tyler Bleyendaal at out-half against Saracens in this month’s European semi-final should Joey Carbery fail to prove his fitness in time.

Footballer Michael Murphy showed, on his television appearance on ‘The Toughest Trade’, that he possesses the attitude of a full-time sportsman. On Saturday, his manager with Donegal praised that mindset.

French referees will take charge of the Irish provinces' Champions and Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

If anyone in Munster underestimates the importance of a successful December in fulfilling European ambitions then the dark days of 2014 and 2015 should provide the necessary jolt.

Toulouse have held on to secure a one point one against reigning Champions Cup holders Leinster.

The arrival of Simon Zebo and Paul O’Connell in Paris this summer may have grabbed most attention but another former Ireland international Donnacha Ryan is determined to make a mark in the French capital this season.

Former Ulster rugby player Paddy Jackson has been signed to French side Perpignan.

This was the sort of day we feared might be beyond Irish clubs again.

Leinster will match Toulouse’s record of four European Cup titles if they can account for Racing 92 in Bilbao tomorrow. Brendan O’Brien examines why, six years after the third of their Heineken Cup titles, the province is again on the verge of something big

Anyone questioning Leinster’s credentials as firm favorites for Champions Cup honours this season must have been won over, even before half time on Saturday such was their complete dominance in all facets of play over the opening 40 minutes.

Of the four provinces, Leinster should be the one least in need of imported talent.

Jonathan Sexton and Leo Cullen were deep into the third quarter of yesterday’s pre-match press conference when the conversation spooled back 12 months to Leinster’s Guinness PRO12 semi-final loss to Scarlets.