What is about Leinster and 17 point leads? Like finals, semifinals are for winning, but Leinster will be left regretting a final fifteen minutes where Northampton nearly overturned them. It felt like La Rochelle deja vu, only this time Leinster found a way to win.
After blasting to a 20-3 lead in the second half, victory seemed all but certain.
However Northampton did not waver and slowly chipped away at Leinster's lead.
A 17 point lead quickly became a three point lead, and Northampton had the ball deep in Leinster's half in the final five minutes chasing an equalising penalty, or even the winning try.
Luckily, some vigilant breakdown work from Caelan Doris and Jack Conan secured the vital penalty and Harry Byrne eventually kicked the ball to touch after 80 minutes had been played.
For those Leinster supporters still suffering PTSD from Leinster's implosion against La Rochelle twelve months ago, it was almost too much to take.
It was a surprisingly similar game script to last year's final, with Leinster playing all of the rugby in the early stages, only to hang on for dear life at the very end.
Either Toulouse or Harlequins will approach this year's final with a confidence, knowing that Leinster tend to wobble as the finish line nears, especially in these big knockout European games.
Leinster need 'a 23 man squad' - Jackman
Speaking on RTÉ's post-match analysis programme, Bernard Jackman identified Leinster's major shortcoming: its bench. While its starting XV is 85% of an Ireland XV, the dropoff once the bench is introduced is notable.
It might sound really harsh, but you look at that bench, and there's only two players on it that are international standard: that's Kelleher and Jack Conan.
Healy coming off the bench, he's got loads of experience but it's a big ask of him to come off the bench and give you impact. The others: Jimmy O'Brien's only coming back from injury, Jason Jenkins, Michael Ala'alatoa, that's the scary thing for Leinster. When you look at this Toulouse squad, who'll play tomorrow - the starting fifteen and bench.
Jackman did however note the cavalry that Leinster could hypothetically call on later this month:
Garry Ringrose, James Ryan, maybe they can come back in, Hugo Keenan...Maybe you go 6-2 and you bring a Will Connors in as well.
I think for Leo, there's three weeks to get some of those players back fit so you get a 23-man squad who can help you get over the line.
With a number of injuries to contend with, @bernardjackman thinks Leinster will hope to strengthen his bench options when they face either Toulouse or Harlequins in the Champions Cup final #rterugby #LEIvNOR pic.twitter.com/GdfYqf4oQt
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 4, 2024
They're brilliant players to call on, but it's not necessarily seamless. Ryan and Ringrose have played very little rugby in 2024, while Keenan has been slowed by injury since the Six Nations.
It will be a tricky build-up to the Champions Cup final for Cullen. Leinster currently sit second in the URC table and have fixtures against Ospreys and Ulster before travelling to London to chase that fifth star.
After the match, Cullen indicated he'll keep his first string players involved in the build-up to the final.
Leinster will be hoping today was not their final visit to Croke Park this season. The frantic finish will give Cullen and his coaching staff plenty to ponder before their trip to London in a few weeks. Time will tell if the flaws can fixed.
