With cards stacked in Leinster's favour, if not now then when?

Blues may still lack that 'Rocky Elsom factor' but ultimately Leo Cullen's men look to have the tools to cope with Toulouse's fearsome power

Fully focused: Rhys Ruddock, Jack Conan and head coach Leo Cullen during Leinster's captain's run at the Aviva Stadium on Friday.

Leinster’s players and coaches had yet to leave for Leicester when Dan Leavy, forced into retirement by injury just last month, and kitman Jim Bastick climbed into a van packed with the squad’s essentials and made for the ferry across to England last Thursday week.

Leavy was the side’s top carrier and tackler in May of 2018 when they edged past Racing 92 in the Bilbao decider and claimed a fourth European Cup, after which Isa Nacewa and Jordi Murphy were given the honour of lifting the trophy into the Basque sky.