Here we go again and it's a serious case of deja vu!

Like last season...Leinster play Munster for a third time.

Like last season...they meet in a semi-final.

Like last season...one team will go in as underdogs having lost the first two games.

The bizarre thing is that the roles have been completely reversed from last season.
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It was sweet while it lasted but Leinster relinquished their hold on the Heineken Cup last weekend. Once the draw was made and they knew they'd have to travel to Toulouse it was always going to be tough and so it proved. Toulouse were the better team on the day and fully deserved their win but it was to Leinster's immense credit that they fought bravely to the end. Their bravery was not matched by the performance though and in truth, they didn't play well enough to earn a place in the final. As good as Toulouse were, there still was moments when Leinster could have taken a foothold in the match but mistakes at this crucial times let them down. Another factor was the defence that hasn't been as good this term. Last season Leinster's defence was meaner than a Cavan man at Christmas, conceding only five tries in nine European games. This season, they conceded ten tries in eight games and while there were of course other factors involved, the simple fact was that it was easier to cross Leinster's line this year.
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"It's on again, Contepomi says 'we'll go'! Hickie! Hickie is racing away and he's going to get past Pelous! He's got to time his pass. D'Arcy! Back to Hickie! Hickie for the corner!!!!!!"

"THAT IS AWESOME!!!"
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All good things come to an end and Leinster's twelve-match unbeaten run unfortunately ended with something of a whimper on Wednesday night in Galway. Though a strong Leinster team had been named in the hope of securing top spot in the league, their hearts never looked in it and they couldn't match Connacht's physicality in both defence and at the breakdown. Connacht richly deserved their win for their commitment and their intelligent tactics but it was still a desperately poor performance from Leinster.
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Leinster make an unfamiliar midweek trip to Galway to play the fixture that was originally scheduled for January 2nd. After opting not to play the match during the Six Nations, this fixture was always likely to be at an awkward time and Leinster now have to play two games in two days with a trip to Glasgow on Friday. So coach Michael Cheika has taken the unusual step of naming his side for both matches early.
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