Eliminating Exeter an epic Leinster performance to rank among their best ever

Leinster’s Jack Conan celebrates at the final whistle as they came from behind to defeat Exeter at Sandy Park in the Champions Cup quarter-final. Picture: Ryan Hiscott/Inpho

There is no way to overplay this one. Hyperbole holds no ground here. Leinster’s European history stretched back across 25 years and 177 games before Saturday’s quarter-final and it’s hard to think of more than three performances that merit mention in the same breath.

The province’s breakthrough semi-final defeat of Munster at Croke Park a dozen years ago will likely never be topped for sheer spectacle, surrounds, emotion, and significance. That they had 19 points to spare that day only adds to the package rather than takes from it.