142 unanswered points - who can stop Leinster in Europe?

Leinster 142-0 Opposition.

If location was a scoreboard for Leinster's past two-and-a-half games successful nan Investec Champions Cup, that's really it would read.

After swatting speech Bath successful their last excavation match, nan Irish giants thrashed Harlequins 62-0 successful nan last-16 and hammered Glasgow Warriors 52-0 successful nan quarter-finals.

Now, Leo Cullen's broadside are conscionable 2 wins distant from their 5th European title.

"We looked astatine nan crippled past week and everyone sewage connected Harlequins' back, but possibly it's not nan opposition," erstwhile Ireland full-back Rob Kearney said connected Premier Sports.

"Maybe Leinster are going done a existent purple spot astatine nan infinitesimal wherever they are obliterating nan guidance successful beforehand of them."

The crippled successful Dublin was efficaciously complete aft 25 minutes, and questions turned to if Leinster could 'nil' a squad for nan 2nd clip successful a week.

It wasn't conscionable a yes, but a resounding one. Even successful nan 79th minute, 52 points and 8 tries to nan good, nan blitz defence was racing up connected nan Glasgow statement for illustration it was nan 2nd minute.

As caput coach Cullen said: "This group is quiet and motivated and that's what we want to see".

Spearheaded by nan awesome Sam Prendergast, Leinster will now look either Northampton aliases Castres successful nan semi-finals, and connected nan grounds of nan past 2 weeks they will beryllium favourites to scope nan final.

However, location is 1 lingering mobility complete Leinster - and that's nan expertise successful nan biggest moments.

It's unusual to opportunity it for a squad littered pinch Irish, South African and New Zealand internationals, but their trophy drought - which astir teams would termination for - stretches backmost 4 years.

They person mislaid nan past 3 European finals, and haven't moreover lifted nan home United Rugby Championship title successful that time.

That could origin earthy interest arsenic different imaginable decider looms ever-closer, but erstwhile Leinster and Ireland fly-half Ian Madigan says "this twelvemonth feels different".

"This squad is conscionable truthful quiet for that 5th star. When you suffer 3 finals you can't thief but beryllium a spot anxious," Madigan added connected Premier Sports.

"There are still value teams near successful nan title but Leinster's crippled is grounded connected their defence now.

"In erstwhile years you wouldn't person said that. They would person ever backed their attack, but now location is this full belief successful their defence."

Madigan feels location are still a fewer teams who could wounded his erstwhile side.

He added: "I deliberation Toulouse aliases Bordeaux connected their time tin unlock it, but it's specified an awesome and relentless defence.

"It's by nary intends done but they person sewage themselves into a awesome position."

Leinster's origin is aided by a fully-fit squad, while holders Toulouse will beryllium without talismanic scrum-half Antoine Dupont, who was injured against Ireland successful nan Six Nations.

If immoderate twelvemonth is going to beryllium theirs, this feels for illustration it will beryllium nan one.

When asked if Leinster were worried astir complacency, All Black Jordie Barrett said: "It can, but that was our challenge. If you attraction capable past you won't fto that be."

On Friday's evidence, this squad attraction much than enough.

For Leinster, location are a brace of standout reasons arsenic to why they are stronger than their competition.

The first is nan on-field recruitment. World Cup-winning 2nd statement RG Snyman was pinched from rivals Munster this summer, while All Black Jordie Barrett signed a short-term woody from November until nan extremity of nan play and prop Rabah Slimani became nan club's first ever French international.

Barrett was named subordinate of nan lucifer against Glasgow, and it was not difficult to spot why.

He was instrumental successful everything astir Leinster's win, pinch nan item coming erstwhile he picked fly-half Adam Hastings up for illustration a container of shopping and threw him into touch.

The different logic is nan presence of Jacques Nienaber into nan coaching set-up past season. Another World Cup victor pinch nan Springboks, he has been nan driving unit down nan side's caller protect system.

All of this, mixed pinch Leinster's star-studded Irish line-up, has made nan cleanable recipe.

Kearney added that nan preamble of Barrett has added "another dimension" to nan Irish province.

"You look astatine nan 3 guys who person travel successful this year," he said.

"Barrett is really celebrated pinch nan guys and has fitted in. On nan field, he is doing things that New Zealand All Blacks do.

"With Nienaber coming successful there's a existent squad ethos and that South African strategy of nan chair being important and strong, Leinster are now viewing games arsenic a existent 23-man effort."

With their spot successful nan last-four secure, Leinster tin bask their play and watch their rivals conflict it retired for nan remaining semi-final spots.

They're sitting beautiful some domestically and successful Europe, and connected existent shape it's difficult to reason against them ending their tally without silverware.