Andrew Porter: Leinster have so much more in the tank

The Racing 92 side they face in Le Havre on Saturday has its own momentum. Second in the Top 14 table, they have won five on the bounce and averaged 40 points per game. Toulon, Clermont Auvergne and Perpignan have been thumped in their last three.

POWERHOUSE: James Ryan and Andrew Porter of Leinster. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Nine games played, nine games won. No side in the URC has scored more tries or conceded less points. Slice and dice it any way you want: Leinster look to be in tip-top shape as they face into their Heineken Champions Cup opener in France.

Last week’s defeat of Ulster may well have been the peak so far. Or, to be more precise, the 35-minute second-half spell where they scored 38 unanswered points when down to 14 men and spun a 22-3 deficit into a 38-22 bonus-point win against their neighbours.