Schmidt has seven weeks to get Blues ready for flying French

And so on to Clermont.

Leinster’s rivalry with Vern Cotter’s side has crackled and fizzled to such an extent in the past four years that it must now be considered as Europe’s keenest, despite the Irishmen claiming the upper hand in recent duels.

Events this past two weekends would suggest the tide is finally poised to turn.