DONAL LENIHAN: Far away hills aren’t always greener

Not a great week for Leinster fans.

While many would have accepted in advance of their Heineken Cup round six tie in Exeter that their chances of the quarter-finals were extremely tight, reality bites hard when it actually comes to pass. Come next April when the chance to win another trophy presents itself — what would any other club in Europe give to land three Heineken Cups and an Amlin Challenge cup in five seasons — you can be sure that Joe Schmidt would have his charges primed and ready for battle.

That lofty aspiration now feels a little hollow with the news Johnny Sexton — a born leader for the next generation of Leinster hopefuls — will no longer be around to steer the ship. With Leo Cullen likely to call a halt on a great career in May, and Brian O’Driscoll contemplating how long more he can afford to put his body on the line, suddenly Leinster have deficiency in the leadership stakes.