Gerry Thornley: Man management is key for Leinster after long season for Irish players

campaigns in World Cup seasons. Back in 2008 they finished fourth, and after each of the last three World Cups, the drain has been such that they have finished third each time.’s team bucked a trend by retaining their Six Nations crown last weekend but one ventures that when the provinces welcome back their respective Championship winners they’ll be mindful of the need to man manage them more carefully than ever.

Of those, Robbie Henshaw , James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Ronan Kelleher, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan played every game. Admittedly, Leinster did retain the Champions Cup in 2012 and were only denied a double when the Ospreys beat them 31-30 at the RDS in the final of the Pro12.

And how it showed. While Pat Lam’s team also reached the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup that season, ala Leinster, both Munster and Ulster failed to progress to the knock-out stages of the Champions Cup.

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