Leinster’s diminishing chances of Champions Cup glory

Leinster have possibly never been such long odds to win the Champions Cup since the last of their four triumphs in 2018 against Racing 92 in Bilbao, and with good reason. Paddy Power makes them 9/2 third favourites, behind the French superpowers of six-time winners Toulouse and back-to-back Champions Cup winners Bordeaux Bègles and, all things considered, even those odds don’t look especially generous.

It’s not just that Leinster have accumulated so many disappointments since that triumph over Racing in the ensuing eight seasons, be it losing five finals and two semi-finals, notably the loss to Northampton two seasons ago.