Leinster face battle to survive in group of death

When the EPCR changed the format of Europe’s blue riband event four years ago, this was exactly what they wanted to see — and what many teams feared.

Leinster were semi-finalists in last season’s competition, but there’s no guarantee whatsoever that the three-time champions will even get out of their pool this time around, with Montpellier, Exeter, and Glasgow Warriors providing serious opposition.

Leo Cullen’s side were second seeds when the draw was made, but it’s hard to imagine a tougher pool, with the obvious caveat that they didn’t draw reigning champions Saracens from tier one.