Close calls don't add extra Champions Cup pressure, say Leinster's Lowe and Lancaster

James Lowe insists Leinster don't feel any extra pressure to complete their Heineken Champions Cup mission having fallen short over the last few seasons.

Leo Cullen’s side lost the final to La Rochelle last May with Ronan O’Gara’s side scoring with the last play of the game.

Considered favourites each season since winning the competition in 2018, Leinster also suffered surprise losses to Saracens (2019, 2020) and La Rochelle (2021) over the last few seasons.

Asked if there was any extra expectation on his team this year, the Ireland international wing told RTÉ Sport: "This year? We probably expected it last year and the year before and the year before.

"It’s a privileged position to be in, don’t get me wrong, we know we’ve got to get our own stuff right.

"It’s knockout rugby from here on in. We’ve got a target on our backs, we know that, we understand that if we are off by a fraction the teams can pip us on the post."

Leicester Tigers, who Leinster beat 23-14 in last season’s quarter-final at Welford Road, are Friday’s visitors to the Aviva and senior coach Stuart Lancaster (below) says that pressure goes both ways.

"The pressure is on both teams because it’s a knock-out game so you don’t build up pressure [season on season]," he said.

"All it takes is a sending off in the first five minutes and you are down to 14, and suddenly anything can happen. Each game starts from zero and each game is a knock-out game.

"Ulster was hugely challenging in terms of pressure.

"I thought we managed that well but it’s completely different circumstances this Friday.

"We don’t listen to external pressure, you deal with it yourself, internally.

"It’s knock-out rugby so that’s pressure in itself."

Leinster overcame the challenge of Ulster on Saturday