ON RUGBY:"Were it not for Leinster and Munster being drawn away in last season's semis, who knows, we could now be talking about four Irish Heineken Cups in a row. So, when historians review this era, we might well call it one of Irish dominance

OVER THE course of one of the more memorable weeks Ireland has known, sport played its little part. Proof of that was the presence of the number 13 with the Heineken Cup on the College Green stage yesterday (having hobnobbed with the queen a few nights before, the great one really does move in different circles these days), and the Taoiseach even referenced Leinster’s triumph on Saturday as an example of Irish spirit.

These are remarkable days for Irish rugby and we might as well enjoy them, because nothing lasts forever. English and French rugby is vastly more resourced, yet both must be looking on at the moment with a degree of envy.

It’s true that three different English clubs won the Heineken Cup four times in a five-year period (1998 to 2002) – and that includes boycotting the 1999-2000 tournament, after the French won the opening two tournaments.

Only a year ago some pundits were of the view that an all-French final heralded an impending era of French dominance. Yes, they are awash with the most lucrative TV deals for their domestic league, as well as rich benefactors. The gravy train that will move off from the Southern Hemisphere after the next World Cup most obviously points toward the Top 14, where before it chugged towards the Premiership.

But as this season shows, talk of dynasties is dangerous. So much hinges on luck, and not least the semi-final draw. It’s the biggest blemish in the tournament. Last season, the French had two home semi-finals prior to a final in Paris. This season, Toulouse and Perpignan were drawn away. Result? No French team in final.

Were it not for Leinster and Munster being drawn away in last season’s semis, who knows, we could now be talking about four Irish Heineken Cups in a row.

As it is, there have been four in the last six years. So, when historians come to review this era, we might well call it one of Irish dominance. And while the French, like Ireland, have five Cups, four of them have been won with Toulouse, whereas Ireland’s quintet have been liberally dispersed between three provinces.

What’s more, where before we used to say that the Heineken Cup was good for Munster, and vice-versa, now the same can be said of Leinster and/or Irish rugby. It would be a far, far duller tournament without the Irish teams, for if it wasn’t for the provinces, the Heineken Cup would have become an Anglo-French duopoly, and that would have been to the tournament’s detriment.

The Irish continue to punch above their weight, and once again in Cardiff over the weekend provided colour, noise and atmosphere in rich abundance.

And the match wasn’t too bad either.

The indelible impression which Brian O’Driscoll and his mates would have left on the young Irish psyche can scarcely be imagined. Compared to when he started out, along with Shane Horgan, Gordon D’Arcy, Leo Cullen and others, the Irish provinces and especially Leinster now reach incomparably farther. Aside from the television audiences, over the course of Leinster’s nine matches in this season’s competition the average attendance was over 39,000.

And, of course, in sealing a second Heineken Cup, Drico and co have not only ensured their own greatness among the golden generation, they have ensured Leinster are part of that elite group, along with Toulouse, Leicester, Munster and Wasps, to have won the tournament more than once.

Having a core group of players with such a vast wealth of experience cannot be over-stated. You’d have thought their brains might have been mush when coming off the pitch after such a ferocious first-half onslaught by Northampton, but apparently the Leinster dressingroom was fairly calm and focused. After Joe Schmidt and Greg Feek had done their thing, the players took over, and there was no sense of panic.

The team’s generals don’t have too many years left in them, but along with the infusion of youth which the likes of Seán O’Brien, Fergus McFadden and others provide, successes such as last Saturday’s will give them the incentive to continue with their fairly monastic lifestyle, ultra professionalism and desire to continue playing to their best.

A team are possibly at their weakest when on top of the world (or at any Europe), as Munster’s salutary lessons two seasons ago highlight, and fans of all sports anywhere can become spoilt by success. Nevertheless, the Leinster Machine continues to churn out young talent, and although there are no guarantees, Leinster look here to stay.

The process of passing the baton to the first lieutenants continued apace on Saturday. In the post-match press conference, Jonathan Sexton continued to look a little embarrassed by O’Driscoll having revealed to Will Greenwood on Sky Sports that the outhalf had produced some particularly inspiring words at the interval. But perhaps this was O’Driscoll’s way of beginning to pass on that baton.

The one lament about the 16-year history of the Heineken Cup is that the tournament never sprinkled some of its stardust the way of Connacht. But now it will do, and while Connacht don’t look especially ready for the experience, it cannot do the province any harm in terms of fund-raising and upgrading the Sportsground, while their team and supporters will provide something fresh, different and unspoilt.

The season isn’t done and dusted yet, of course. Leinster seek to complete a historic double next Saturday where a certain bunch of men in red will be waiting for them in the long grass, after luring them into their parlour with a guard of honour. Imagine being a Leinster player and being clapped onto the pitch by Paul O’Connell, Ronan O’Gara, Denis Leamy, et al? How disconcerting.