16 games down, 16 to go – they can’t possibly do it, can they? Leinster are in uncharted territory with 16 consecutive wins in all competitions this season surpassing their 2001⁄02 high of 15 in a row. They are, by far and away, the star team in Europe so far this campaign – having married ten wins from ten and the demanding nature of the PRO14 with six straight wins, 28 points and the securing of a home quarter-final in the Heineken Champions Cup. But, can they keep it up and go the whole season unbeaten? History suggests it is not possible but Leinster have never cared that much about going against accepted convention. No less than 16 members of Leo Cullen’s squad make up Ireland’s Six Nations squad as they gear up for their championship opener against Scotland– a sign of just how star-studded their outfit has been this year. In addition, three Leinster players in the form of Tadhg Furlong, Jordan Larmour and Garry Ringrose have been nominated for the EPCR European Player of the Year 2020 award. Congratulations to @RingroseG, href=“https://twitter.com/tadhgfurlong?refsrc=twsrc%5Etfw”>@tadhgfurlong and Jordan Larmour on their #EPOTY2020 nominations! 🔵👊 See the full list of nominees and cast your vote: https://t.co/cWKF6KnFEo#LeinsterRugby #FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/VXC0rOSyPr — Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) January 27, 2020 And whether it is Dave Kearney’s nine tries in all competitions, Will Connors’ 115 tackles in the Guinness PRO14, or Max Deegan’s 81 carries domestically, wherever you care to look there have been standout showings from pretty much every member of the Leinster team. And, of course, they have not been without their injury woes with fly-half Johnny Sexton, Jack Conan, and Sean Cronin among the names to have been hampered by issues at one stage or another. But, their strength in depth has reached new heights and been duly rewarded with Deegan joining Ronan Kelleher and Caelan Doris as three of the five uncapped stars in Andy Farrell’s squad. However, now it would be wise to offer some realism and senior coach Stuart Lancaster has made sure to ignore the hype around the unbeaten run. He said earlier this month: “It’s [the unbeaten run] not something that I think any team would ever go and be that arrogant that you say we are going to go through the season unbeaten, when you know the games that you have got to come around the corner. “It’s been a big squad effort.” 💪@rossmolony spoke exclusively to #LeinsterRugby TV about the end of our 13-game block and securing a home #ChampionsCup quarter-final after the win over @BenettonRugby. 👇#BENvLEI #JoinTheRoar pic.twitter.com/wyi2ubDGoW — Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) January 18, 2020 “What drives us, obviously, is to win every game, that’s for sure. I don’t think we should shy away from that, but we don’t talk about an unbeaten season.” The Six Nations will, undoubtedly, bring Cullen’s men their stiffest challenges yet with huge numbers away on international duty. Furthermore, trips to South Africa to face Toyota Cheetahs alongside clashes with the in-form Scarlets and Ulster in Round 21 still lie in wait in the Guinness PRO14 and that’s before we even mention the Finals Series. Then, there is the wounded animal in Saracens to face in Europe before a possible showdown with French heavyweights Clermont or Racing 92 – and that’s before the final itself! January, the perennial crusher of Leinster form runs, has been survived but with every passing week the fatigue and pressure of a long season continues to build – the odds would suggest they are bound to slip up somewhere. However, stranger things have happened and Leinster are no ordinary side.
