With an impressive tally of 225 points from 18 games at provincial level, the 2014/15 campaign has certainly been a productive one for Ian Madigan.

Leinster players being self-critical after victories is not exactly news in recent years, but Rob Kearney took it a step further on Saturday night by questioning the team’s preparations throughout this season.

Leinster survived a late scare from Bath at the Aviva Stadium today to book a place in the Champions Cup semi-finals.

Leinster survived a late scare from Bath at the Aviva Stadium today to book a place in the Champions Cup semi-finals.

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

It’s been a season almost devoid of moments to savour for Leinster fans, despite today’s presence in Europe’s last eight, so it is hardly stretching the bounds of reason to suggest that yesterday’s team announcement may rank up there among the best days.

England’s preparations for the RBS 6 Nations continued to unravel with the news Owen Farrell will miss the entire Championship because of a knee injury.

England 28 South Africa 31

It is a sign of England’s growing maturity that the talk in the gym ahead of their game against New Zealand today has been of ‘Dad Strength’.

George North’s quartet of tries reinvigorated Northampton’s European campaign, but the 34-6 victory over the Ospreys came at a cost with England centre Luther Burrell departing early through injury.

England imploded at the Waikato Stadium to conclude their series against New Zealand with an error-ridden 36-13 defeat as the All Blacks amassed a record-equalling 17th successive victory.

New Zealand 28 England 27

England slipped to a painful late defeat in their first Test against New Zealand knowing that a glorious opportunity to topple the world champions had eluded them.

IAN McGEECHAN believes Leinster are the team to beat in this season’s Heineken Cup and says Jonny Sexton now has the ideal mix of talent and experience to take Europe by storm once again.

Danny Brough has turned his back on Scotland for a second time in a bid to achieve his dream of playing for England against Australia.

England face an anxious wait to discover the extent of injuries to key duo Adrian Morley and Sam Tomkins which threaten to thrown their Four Nations plans into chaos.