James Lowe:  'We have put ourselves in a very good position now to give ourselves another crack'

Leinster have threatened the summit of this competition time and again since. They have lost three finals, one to Saracens and two to La Rochelle. There have been quarter-final and semi-final exits too. So many near things, too many near misses.

GOOD POSITION: Leinster have threatened the summit of this competition time and again since. They have lost three finals, one to Saracens and two to La Rochelle. There have been quarter-final and semi-final exits too. So many near things, too many near misses. 

Mention Bilbao to anyone in Leinster colours and watch their face light up. True, it poured rain in 2018 but that was the only dark cloud. The people, the city, the food, the nightlife: all of it superb and topped off by the result.

James Lowe wasn’t even playing when the province won its fourth and, to date, last Champions Cup title. Rules restricting the amount of Aussies and Kiwis that could be used by sides from the European Union squeezed him out on the day.