Brian O’Driscoll: Ageing Leinster are ‘running out of chances’ in the Champions Cup

Leinster and Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll is worried that a second Champions Cup triumph could completely elude this great generation of players.

While most were involved in their 2018 success, the Irish province have underachieved over the past decade considering the depth and talent of the squad.

They have lost in four finals since that victory over Racing 92 six years ago, with three of those coming in succession.

Leinster succumbed to La Rochelle in 2022 and 2023 before they were defeated 31-22 by Toulouse at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

Most of the Ireland squad

With Leo Cullen’s side making up the bulk of the Ireland squad, a team that were number one in the rankings leading up to the Rugby World Cup, it is a surprise that they have been unable to get over the line in the Champions Cup.

Although there is still plenty of life left in those individuals, a number of them are now the wrong side of 30.

“Nothing they can do about the three that have gone, the next one is the one, before they start getting too old. Age profile: late 20s, early 30s, four losing finals now,” O’Driscoll told Off The Ball.

“They’re running out of chances, this group of players. Of course there’s an emergence of some of those younger players coming through.

“(Jamison) Gibson-Park, (Robbie) Henshaw, (Tadhg) Furlong. I know some of those guys have won (the Champions Cup before), but the years are starting to tot up. Josh van der flier is another, (Jack) Conan, all these guys are in their 30s now.”

Jacques Nienaber hits back at accusations that Leinster ‘mocked’ World Rugby with waterboy loophole

There is even a concern that Leinster may start to slip down the European pecking order, but O’Driscoll insists that the province will continue to be in the mix .

However, the great Ireland centre admits that getting over that line becomes harder and harder with every final defeat.

“The baggage has to mount, it does, but they know they will have enough to get to a round-of-16, quarter-final on the quality that they have, the quality that they’ve shown this year, albeit not as good as the last couple of years,” he said.

“They’re really good pros. If they can park it and move forward, it’s always an opportunity. The next chance is the best time to win the European Cup.”

Leinster’s aura

Leinster have been the most feared outfit in Europe over the past few years, despite their agonising losses, but that could now be dissipating.

Unlike the 2022 and 2023 finals, where Cullen’s charges were clear favourites, the 2024 clash looked a toss-up between the teams.

Toulouse were calm and composed in that extra-time period, displaying superb confidence to close out the game.

As a result, O’Driscoll has queried whether sides in the competition will have fewer worries about facing Leinster going forward.

“It’s another obstacle, the fear factor goes about not being able to close it. You (used to) have that mindset, ‘we get to finals, we win them’,” he added.

“In many ways, it’s such a leveller around how hard the competition is to win. I’ve said it many times that we could easily have lost the first two (in 2009 and 2011). They could have easily have lost in 2018, they only won by two points.”

READ MORE: ‘There’s not a lack of belief’ says Leo Cullen after Leinster lose third successive Champions Cup final