Ice cool Byrne proves worth as Sexton's stand-in and successor

'Ice in his veins, knocking over the points for fun,' was the verdict on Ross Byrne from Jack Conan.

SPECIAL DELIVERY: Ross Byrne of Leinster kicks a conversion during the Heineken Champions Cup Semi-Final match between Leinster and Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Even after a Heineken Champions Cup semi-final victory as impressive as this was over Toulouse, Leinster players were searching for improvements, chastising themselves for not doing better and looking forward to the next challenge, not basking in the success of the moment.

It is one of the reasons they are the yardstick by which the other Irish provinces and far beyond are measuring themselves by and why, despite not quite yet translating that into a trophy haul to match, they will continue to be favourites for both the Champions Cup and the BKT United Rugby Championship in this knockout stage of the campaign.