Jack McGrath warns Leinster must draw the sting out of Northampton

It’s three years since Northampton and Leinster last crossed paths twice in the space of a week and both clubs will be drawing on lessons learned the hard way as they approach the first of their latest engagements, at Franklin’s Gardens.

Even at the time, Leinster’s 40-7 victory in England was extraordinary. Now it stands even higher in the general estimation as it was one of maybe the few times during Matt O’Connor’s time in charge when the three-time European champions truly hit their straps.

Leinster cut the Saints to pieces that evening. They employed all sorts of clever running lines, chased Northampton players away from rucks with abandon and basically negated the physical strengths of a team that at the time was England’s form legion.