Leo Cullen: ‘Everything is really deflated in there right now’

Leinster lost influential back-rower Rhys Ruddock to a calf injury in the first half having been denied the service of captain Sexton (concussion), Caelan Doris (calf), and Will Connors (knee)

Leinster have won the PRO14 twice and lost two European knockout games since rugby restarted last August

Leinster have won the PRO14 twice and lost two European knockout games since rugby restarted last August but Luke McGrath had to rally the troops for yet another trophy bid last night in the wake of defeat to La Rochelle.

Last year’s Covid-19 lockdown may have made mincemeat of the rugby calendar forcing governing bodies to run the 2019-20 campaign virtually straight into 2020-21 but yesterday’s Heineken Champions Cup semi-final exit in western France, just seven months on from last season’s quarter-final exit at home to Saracens, does not spell the end of Leinster’s schedule.