Tributes no use to Leinster

Leinster almost beat themselves with a disastrous opening quarter to this Champions Cup semi-final, so to think they went on to almost beat Clermont Auvergne on French soil too is a testament to the character and class of Leo Cullen’s team.

No amount of praise will console them today, but the ability of the three-time champions to pick themselves up off the canvas and trade punches with the Top 14 side made for an afternoon of absolutely epic proportions.