Horgan: let’s make even more history

SHANE HORGAN has challenged his Leinster team-mates to make history by becoming only the second side to retain the Heineken Cup — and believes Ireland’s World Cup heartache could help them do so.

Joe Schmidt’s side secured their place in the pantheon of great European teams by claiming their second Heineken Cup trophy in three seasons with a dramatic 33-22 victory over Northampton Saints back in May.

But Horgan believes it would be an even greater achievement if Leinster emulated Leicester’s back-to-back wins in 2001 and 2002. And as the likes of Brian O’Driscoll, Sean O’Brien and Jonathan Sexton have returned to Dublin after their bruising World Cup quarter-final defeat to Wales, Horgan is adamant that Ireland’s pain could be Leinster’s gain.