Deserve's got nothing to do with it - Can Leinster add fifth star?

Back to the base of the mountain.

Another year on and another final defeat older for Leo Cullen's Leinster. The big question is can the perpetual bridesmaids, fallers at the last hurdle in four of the last six renewals, get over the line this time.

Time will tell. But don’t be fooled by any talk of this being their time. That was the theme of the last three years.

The Aviva Stadium final of 2023 had destiny written all over it, a famous fifth star, vengeance for the knockout blows landed by La Rochelle in the previous two seasons, and a fitting farewell for Johnny Sexton.

Earlier this year they had vanquished Ronan O’Gara’s double champions in stunning style and arrived at Tottenham Hotspur’s sci-fi stadium ready to get the job done (below).

Antoine Dupont and his Toulouse team-mates had other ideas and claimed title number six after a thrilling encounter that went to extra time.

Leinster are due a win but they know it doesn’t work like that – deserve's got nothing to do with it.

But whatever way they cut it, there is no doubt that the pressure is on Cullen to deliver this season.

Into his tenth year as head coach, he has been backed by the powers that be at the province and given a two-year deal last month.

"While the last three years hurt, no-one feels that hurt more than Leo and of course, his players and coaches," said Leinster CEO Shane Nolan last month.

"But the page has turned...you can see that Leo and his squad, indeed the whole club, are as ambitious and as hungry for success as ever."

Bulk suppliers to Ireland’s seniors, Under-20s and Emerging sides, and even lending star full-back Hugo Keenan to the Sevens at the end of the season, Leinster may be inclined to take a more selfish approach.

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