Bernard Jackman: Pressure on Leinster to finally deliver

Bernard Jackman says the pressure is on Leinster to end their trophy drought ahead of the start of the new BKT URC season.

The eastern province won the last of their eight titles in the competition back in 2021 but they failed to make it back to the final in the last three seasons.

Coupled with three consecutive Champions Cup final defeats, it means that Leo Cullen will be expected to deliver the goods come spring time.

"Leinster are probably the biggest underachievers, in terms of silverware [of the Irish provinces]," Jackman said on RTÉ's Game On.

"[=They're incredibly consistent, incredibly high win ratio during the season for the last three campaigns. But then knockout rugby, they've come up just short."

The province haven't been shy about flexing their financial muscles during the summer months, with prop Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman and Jordie Barrett arriving to bolster the squad.

"Leinster haven't been as aggressive in the transfer market... since around 2008," Jackman continued.

"They signed Rocky Elsom, Isa Nacewa and CJ van der Linde in one off season and they won a European Cup at the end of that season.

"They've been quote cautious if you look at the quality of the foreign player that they've signed over the last five years. There have been good signings, but not ones that'd take your breath away.

"They've done that this summer and it ramps up the pressure on them, certainly in the URC. To go another season without winning the URC would be very hard to stomach.

"Realistically, Europe is where this squad will judge themselves. That's not going to be easy. Toulouse are a generational side so Leinster could be better and still struggle to beat them.

"There is pressure on Leinster to finish the season with a trophy."

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