Leinster bench warrants concern, says Bernard Jackman

Leinster's fourth-quarter fade against Northampton highlighted the bench problems for head coach Leo Cullen, according to Bernard Jackman.

The four-time Investec Champions Cup winners held off a late surge from the English Premiership leaders to win 20-17 and reach the final against Toulouse on 25 May in London.

They looked to be in total control, leading 20-3 against a misfiring Saints outfit with 22 minutes to play at Croke Park on Saturday.

However, the visitors worked their way back into the contest and the combined efforts of back rows Caelan Doris and Jack Conan were needed to win a jackal penalty with Saints threatening on the 22.

Leinster made three substitutions on the 53rd minute: forwards Rónan Kelleher, Jason Jenkins and Conan replaced Dan Sheehan, Ross Molony and Josh van der Flier.

Michael Ala’alatoa came on for Tadhg Furlong in the 61st minute; Cian Healy, making a record 111th appearance in the competition, switched on for Andrew Porter with eight minutes to go, while fit-again Jimmy O’Brien came on for Jordan Larmour a minute later.

Harry Byrne came on for the injured Ciarán Frawley in the last minute, while scrum-half Luke McGrath was an unused substitute, with man of the match Jamison Gibson-Park going the full 80.

Injured Ireland players Garry Ringrose (shoulder) and Hugo Keenan (hip) will be further assessed this week before a decision is made on their availability to face the Ospreys (Saturday, 7.35pm) but priority will be placed on ensuring the influential duo are fully fit.

"I think how Leinster got into this situation, they are going to look at this bench," former Leinster and Ireland hooker Jackman told RTÉ Sport.

"This may sound really harsh and if you look at it before the game there are only two