Are Blues the best ever?

The thousands of blue-clad fans singing and dancing along the streets of London celebrating their team’s European triumph were hotly debating whether their side is the best Europe has ever seen.

Many argued that their side showed a style and flair rarely seen in the modern game, with the performance of senior players belying earlier concerns about ageing limbs.

Others spoke passionately about their club’s place of belonging in the local community and ability to nurture young, local talent and turn them into genuine world-class performers.

Despite the heroics of Roberto Di Matteo and his men, surely the most ardent of Chelsea fans cannot think I am referring to their epic achievement!

I am actually referring to the magical hordes of Leinster supporters who were among the record 81,000 Twickenham crowd at the Heineken European Cup final who witnessed the most remarkable performance from their side in this all-Irish denouement to the European season.

Not only did Leinster rack up the highest number of points in a final (42), largest winning margin (28) and most tries (5), but they did so against a side that can genuinely consider themselves to be the second best team in the competition. Ulster worked their way through the ‘Group of Death’ in the preliminary stages, overcoming Clermont Auvergne and Leicester before dispensing with Munster and Edinburgh in the knock-out stages.

The reality is that few thought this final would end with any other result. Ulster, under current coach Brian MacLaughlin, have failed to win any of their matches against Leinster. The manner of their victory merely emphasises the gulf between Leinster and all comers at this stage.

Statistically, Toulouse have a higher total of European championships, although their four titles have been secured over a longer period of time and six finals. Leinster’s third title was secured in four years, this latter ensuring they become the first team since Leicester to secure back-to-back triumphs. 

Given the home and away nature of this competition it is also remarkable that they have gone 15 matches unbeaten since losing last to Clermont in the group stages of last season’s competition – their worst result being an away draw in France. 

They become the only side in 17 years of the Heineken Cup to go an entire season without defeat.

Wasps boast a 100 per cent record from their two finals, Leicester have three wins from five finals while Munster secured safe passage from the group stages for 12 consecutive years while winning two of four finals.

However, it is Leinster that appears to be re-defining the boundaries. Many had thought that the only way to defeat Leinster would be for Ulster to bully them into submission. However, in their semi-final when they overcame Clermont away at Bordeaux they proved they were capable of winning attritional rugby.

Ulster tried to take a high-tempo attacking game to Leinster although were repelled with fierce tackles that formed a foundation for swift counter-attacks.

Ulster turned to a kicking game yet Rob Kearney was assured under the high ball and devastating on the return.

Brian O’Driscoll, returning only eight days after knee surgery, produced several subtle and sumptuous offloads, Sean O’Brien – the man of the match – was hugely influential in marshalling the defence and driving the attack while Johnny Sexton produced an intelligent pivot alongside O’Driscoll and precision kicking to enhance Leinster’s lead.

They have a system that allows forwards to interchange with the backs almost seamlessly, each individual being given the opportunity to demonstrate their individual instinct – all within a collective system.

Yet the beauty to this Leinster side is not just in the breathtaking and expansive rugby in attack, the ability to also hit back with a smoother defence and counter-attack with incisive speed – it is in the consistency they have produced domestically and in Europe.

Having secured their third European crown they have another cup final this coming weekend as they aim to secure the Rabo Pro 12. After 22 matches they topped the table by 10 points (two wins) from the team they will face in the final – the Ospreys.

They have achieved this by using an incredible 49 players this season, showcasing the tremendous strength in depth they have created by developing local talent and integrating it into a thriving and successful structure while blending this with their Irish and foreign internationals.

Indeed their captain, Leo Cullen, is a home-grown player who returned from several years learning his trade at Leicester.

Yet despite being comprehensively crowned as European champions last weekend a word or two of caution! Last year Leinster returned from European triumph over Northampton only to lose to Munster in the Rabo 12 final. 

This year they face an improving Osprey’s side who comprehensively thumped Munster 45-10 in the semi-final. Ospreys also account for two of Leinster’s three Rabo 12 defeats earlier in the season.

However, the ability to put two titles ‘in the bag’ – as with Chelsea – should be a tremendous motivator. 

Their talismanic centre, Brian O’Driscoll (in BOD we trust), has already spoken about this team’s dynasty. Yet, one suspects, the real motivator over the summer will be the prospect of playing for a third successive European crown at ‘home’ in Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. Even then it’s not just about what they win, but how they win.