Leinster were dealt a sobering surprise in the URC when they were handily beaten by The Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Little has gone wrong for the league leaders of late, emphatically casting La Rochelle aside in Europe before announcing that All Blacks superstar Jordie Barrett will join them next season.
The Blues have also made moves in their coaching department with ex-Munster man Tyler Bleyendaal set to join the set-up from next season.
But they faced a tricky prospect in traveling to face the Lions south of the equator and so it proved with a disastrous start proving fatal in a limp 44-12 loss.
Leinster - who had won eight games on the spin prior to the meeting - conceded six tries despite having a number of capped Ireland internationals in their squad.
Jamie Heaslip disappointed with three Leinster players
Former Leinster backrow Jamie Heaslip was candid in his disappointment with the performance, singling out three key men who he felt failed to step up on the occasion.
Speaking on punditry duty on RTE following the match, Heaslip lamented Leinster's inaccuracy and poor defence while namechecks out-half Harry Byrne, captain Scott Penny and fellow loose forward Max Deegan.
"(I am) disappointed with Leinster," he said.
"They dominated territory and dominated possession but their attack just did not click; they were inaccurate.
"It was their defence that punished them today. They let in a lot of tries at the start and at the end they showed the inaccuracies again.
"I am disappointed that certain players did not own the game: Harry Byrne; Max Deegan; Scott Penny.
"It was a big opportunity for those guys to own this and they didn't and Leinster fell well short."
"It will be a tough Monday morning meeting."
Jamie Heaslip reflects on a heavy defeat for Leinster against the Lions.
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Leinster remain at the summit of the URC standings despite the defeat, ahead of Glasgow Warriors by a single point.
Leo Cullen's side will stay in South Africa as they turn their attention to 2022 champions the Stormers next weekend.
