Without significant adjustments, one aspect of Leinster’s defensive set-up will not cope against the top-quality teams they could face in May. Leinster’s system is coping with both of these scenarios. When Leinster’s rushing defence is faced with more attackers than defenders, then the system is deeply vulnerable to failure. Leinster’s rushing defensive system discards the best two defenders on the field. Leinster have the quality to win the Champions Cup, but not with the current flaw inside their defensive playbook.

Source: The Irish Times January 17, 2026 07:30 UTC