Leinster clinched their fourth Champions Cup after a 15-12 win over Racing 92 – in a game that was more attrition than attraction.
The Bilbao final may not go down as a classic due to a lack of tries, and any real try-scoring opportunities, but that will not concern the Irishmen.
It was their fourth success in a decade, and places them atop of the all-time standings with Toulouse.
Here are three reasons why they leave Spain with the silverware.
Adaptability
Going into the game Leinster had scored more tries (38), gained more metres (4,394) and beaten more defenders (215), than any other side in the competition. They were very much, the entertainers.
Racing, to their credit, deprived of the talents of Maxime Machenaud and Dan Carter before the game – and then Patrick Lambie just moments into it, managed to turn the match into what effectively looked like a Top14 game.
If Racing had more confidence at fly half, they may well have pushed the boat out more themselves – they did score three times against Clermont and Munster in the quarters and semis respectively.
As it was, practically nothing came outside the first runner off nine for the team from Paris, they kicked well, and tried to wear-down the opposition in a blood and thunder forwards battle.
Leinster were able to suck up the pressure however and, in the main, nullify the heavy artillery the Frenchmen threw at them.
Given the expansive, offloading game-plan Leinster will have no doubt gone into the final with, it was a measure of the side that they could adapt so proficiently.
Defence
Racing 92’s French scrum-half Teddy Iribaren bossed things for the French side
With Racing mainly employing first up runners off scrum-half Teddy Iribaren, it was clear to see where the threat was coming from.
At the top echelons of the game, in isolation, it is not a difficult task to defend this. However, the fact that the Boys in Blue could absorb the barrage and still look like they were not going to be penetrated, was both testament to their fitness, and outright desire not to lose.
Also key was their discipline at the breakdown. To concede just four penalties on the scoreboard was, no bad return, and allowed them to always stay in touch in a game that would have been incredibly frustrating to play in.
Knowing how to win
Teddy Thomas will have nightmares about his decision making late-on in the Champions Cup final
It takes unerring self-belief to be able to trail for 76 minutes of a game, and still never look panicked.
Three titles in the previous nine years, shows the club knows exactly what it takes to dine at Europe’s top table and their ability to operate with clarity of thought and action in the most tense of situations is mighty impressive.
When Remi Tales, dragged his stoppage-time drop goal to the left of the upright, there was an air of inevitability. You can’t help but think if it was at the other end and it was Johnny Sexton’s right boot swinging the outcome would have been very different.
Tales can’t be seen as the man who cost Racing however, that honour must go to Teddy Thomas. Quite what the winger was thinking when, having gathered a ball his forwards had stolen at a lineout deep in their own territory, he headed back outside and was bundled into touch, is anyone’s guess. The fact Leinster notched a penalty from the resulting play compounded what was a dreadful piece of decision making.
On the other side of the coin, Leinster looked composed. Isa Nacewa notching two later penalties with ease, and seeing those around him make the right decisions, and execute, at the key moments.
