The Irish brains inspiring Saracens

The last time Cardiff staged the final, there were 12 Irish on the pitch and another 30,000 or so packed into the Millennium Stadium to witness Leinster’s second European conquest.

As a result of Munster’s masochistic tendency to turn losing semi-finals into an almost excruciating annual experience, the Irish cast at the wondrous Welsh temple for next month’s final will be down to two.

Thereby hangs quite a tale.