Leinster must learn from the failures of the past and avoid the pitfalls ...

Perpignan – the mere mention of the name still sends shivers down the spines of everyone associated with Leinster Rugby, even now, 21 years after that fateful European Cup semi-final clash at Lansdowne Road. A crowd of 39,000 watched as Leinster, a team full of international players, with a flawless 7/7 record in Europe that season and heavy favourites, faced off against the team from the French Mediterranean for a coveted spot in the final against rugby aristocrats, Toulouse. This match was to erase Leinster’s image as perennial underachievers and propel them towards their inaugural European title. However, the outcome was not to be as Leinster…