Leinster’s anxiety over the 28-0 loss handed them due to a Covid forced abandonment in December was eased significantly yesterday when they ran in a record-equalling 89-7 victory over Montpellier in the Heineken Champions Cup.
This means they only require a single point in next week’s final group stage game away to Bath to be assured of a spot in the Last 16 of the competition.
Munster and Ulster have already achieved that and have a chance of topping their respective groups ensuring a home run through the Round of 16, Quarter Finals and Semi-Final stages.
They are at home to Wasps and Clermont Auvergne next weekend.
Connacht are lying 6th in Pool B, with eight teams qualifying, and a single bonus point away to Stade Francais in their final game would lift them clear of the teams that are in ninth and below.
With a 36-9 win over the French side from the first round of fixtures to look back on, they will travel with a degree of confidence.
Success next weekend would be the first time that all four provinces have made it to the knockout round of the premier club rugby competition and it is possible that all four games in the round of 16 could be played at home venues.
Leinster’s home win over Montpellier was their first time in action in over a month but the effort which Montpellier put into the game has been questioned by leading figures within the sport.
“This was nothing short of two fingers to the EPCR,” according to commentator Tony Ward who criticised the French for fielding a weakened side and suggested they should be punished by exclusion from the competition the next time they qualify.
In a winter that has been torn apart by Covid positives and restrictions, the tournament organisers are probably just happy that they have gotten to a point where there is only one round of games remaining and then a long break to prepare for knock out matches that will put them back on an even keel.
An entry line in the record books will come with a covid shaped asterisk in years to come and while it was not the most entertaining game to watch, it was at least played and the world of sport keeps turning.
