BERNARD JACKMAN: Rethinking our provincial approach

Leinster have the quality to win out but Clermont, Toulon, Northampton or Bath are the more likely winners.

Irish rugby in terms of the national side’s results and performances, is in rude health at the moment under the guidance of Joe Schmidt and his coaching team. Delve deeper though and our provincial sides are really starting to look under-powered in terms of being contenders to win the European Cup which, if we are honest, is the marker by which our professional players judge themselves.

We always were able to punch above our weight in Europe through playing intelligent rugby, incredible levels of professionalism and huge on and off-field work rates.