T he first rule of finals rugby is the same as it ever was. The team that maintain their composure when the pressure starts to mount are generally the side that prevail.
And if your playmakers can display a sure touch in the final quarter, your odds shorten even more. There were some good examples last weekend, not least from Munster’s Jack Crowley.
When the moment came to nail Leinster with a late drop-goal in the Aviva Stadium, the 23-year-old was more than equal to the challenge to book his team a place in the United Rugby Championship final against the Stormers in Cape Town.
It underlined why several good judges believe he has a lengthy Test career ahead of him. In the cases of Owen Farrell and George Ford, however, a more urgent debate is resurfacing.