Over the last decade, Leinster have asserted themselves as one of the best club rugby sides in the world, constantly competing in the upper echelons of European rugby.
This season has been no different, with their win over La Rochelle yesterday ending a three-season-long hoodoo that saw the province beaten in consecutive European finals and a semi-final by the French side.
However, last night was all Leinster's when they sailed to a 40-13 victory over Ronan O'Gara's side in the Aviva Stadium, knocking La Rochelle out of the competition all while booking a spot in the iconic Croke Park for the semi-final.
While some pundits put their change in fortune against rivals La Rochelle down to the brilliance of Jacques Nienaber's mind and others mentioned the coming good of Jamison Gibson Park or a lack of injuries, Stephen Jones seemed more concerned with Leinster's 'partially ridiculous' home advantage.
13 April 2024; Leinster players, from left, Jack Conan, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ciarán Frawley and Dan Sheehan celebrate after the Investec Champions Cup quarter-final match between Leinster and La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
READ MORE: Ronan O'Gara Was Incredibly Forthcoming About La Rochelle's Heavy Loss To Leinster
Stephen Jones laments Leinster's home advantage
Little love has been lost between Stephen Jones and Irish rugby supporters over the years, with Jones taking each and every opportunity to downplay the success of Irish rugby over that period.
Old habits obviously die hard, because that trend continued in Stephen Jones' column for the Sunday Times this morning when he lambasted Leinster's home advantage, joking they'd have to walk to Croke Park.
They will face Leinster, who beat La Rochelle 40-13, in the semi-final, and in a massive shock, Leinster are not hosting it at their home ground, the Aviva Stadium, because it is the venue for the Europa League final.
It is not to cast aspersions on anyone, but the last time they played an away game, their boots had wooden studs.
They have the home country advantage as the competition's second-ranked team but will now have to walk all the way to Croke Park, also in Dublin, of course.
The organisers of this tournament have made it partially ridiculous by allowing the seedings from months ago to apply all the way through until the final, which has devalued the event and given Leinster a ludicrously priceless advantage.
While Jones might be enraged at Leinster's home advantage, they continue their home run due to winning all four of their pool games and finishing as the second seed in the competition - a rule introduced to keep all rounds of the pool stages competitive.
Similarly, top seed Toulouse will have the privilege of playing at home should they beat Exeter today.
Despite the 'ludicrously priceless advantage' and Leinster's prominence at the top of European Rugby for over fifteen years, none of their four European/Heineken Cup wins came at home, with their four winning finals played in Spain, Scotland, Wales and England.
In fact, Ulster are the only Irish side to win a European Championship on home soil, when they beat French side Colomiers 21-6 in Lansdowne Road in 1999.
Leinster will now face Northampton Saints in the European Champions Cup semi-final. Should they be victorious in Croke Park they'll go on to play their second European Championship final in London, with the game set for the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
SEE ALSO: Booing Of Ronan O'Gara By Leinster Fans Stirs Big Debate In Irish Rugby Circles
