Leinster will rue missed chances and predictable lineout attack

Every final, and particularly every final defeat, has a story.

Leinster's 2019 defeat against Saracens was 'the one where they got outmuscled', 2022 was 'the one where they didn't take enough risks', and last year against La Rochelle was 'the one with the 17-point lead'.

The latest Investec Champions Cup final defeat is already emerging as 'the one where they didn't take their points'.

It's always a risk to turn down shots at goal in favour of going for the jugular.

After criticising their three-six-nine approach to the final against La Rochelle in Marseille two years ago, it does feel a bit Monday Morning Quarterback to pin their 31-22 defeat to Toulouse simply down to turning down a few shots at goal.

Rather than pick apart the intent to try score seven points instead of three, the province's lack of creativity and invention when they got themselves into those positions is fair game.

From 17 entries to the Toulouse 22 over the course of 100 minutes, the province scored one try and nine points off penalties, with their two other penalty kicks occurring outside the 22. On 13 occasions they marched into the 22 only to leave empty-handed.

Seven of those entries to the 22 ended with knock-ons or handling errors, five of those coming inside the opening 20 minutes of the game. Three more were halted after penalties or turnovers won at the breakdown by the French side.

"We probably could have been a little bit clinical in those areas," said Will Connors (above), as he reflected on Leinster's poor return on investment in the 22.

"We usually pride ourselves on them. In fairness you look at Toulouse they were good at scrambling, it's the heartbeat of their game, we probably didn’t deal with it well enough, they got over the ball, a few of