Donal Lenihan: Ultimate survivors Exeter have some unfinished business with Leinster

I was really impressed with Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle on Friday night. They play a magnificent brand of running and offloading rugby but the subtle difference with them compared to other French clubs is they appear more tactically astute

Leinster’s Tadhg Furlong gets involved in a maul with Exeter’s Jonny Hill during their 2017 Champions Cup clash at Sandy Park. An 18-8 defeat was a humbling experience for Exeter. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Once more unto the breach. There is simply no respite available for the top international players, especially those plying their trade at the biggest European clubs. Having that opportunity to play at the elite level week in week out, although demanding, must also be exhilarating.

Such is the lot of Leinster’s international contingent. They went straight from an eight-week bubble with Ireland for the Six Nations Championship into preparing for a Guinness PRO14 final against a Munster side most expected would bring a manic hunger for victory.