Ed Byrne bids to make every chance count as knockout season looms 

Do not tell Ed Byrne there is nothing on the line for Leinster this weekend. The Guinness PRO14 defending champions had a home semi-final locked in before the pandemic brought rugby to a halt in early March but as they prepare to face Ulster in their final-round match before the play-offs, there is still plenty of incentive for Leo Cullen’s players to excel.

As a team, the men in blue are determined to continue building momentum leading into the knockout rounds of both the PRO14 and Heineken Champions Cup and extending their winning run to 23 matches this weekend. For individuals like loosehead prop Byrne, there is an opportunity to stake a claim to being part of the double-winning title chase.