Five things we learned from Leinster v Bath

Nothing

Nothing new about Leinster anyway. This season they have been decimated by injury and denied regular access to their many internationals. At one stage in November 70 percent of the squad were unavailable. Matt O'Connor has had to use fourth choice options in certain positions – like lossehead and centre. Cian Healy and Sean O'Brien only started their club season proper against Bath. Both were unable to reach the performance levels we saw from them in Murrayfield. O'Brien looked jaded, Jamie Heaslip was outstanding yet again but his body is also creaking.

Johnny Sexton teams win trophies

Ever since Sexton was 16 and drop goaled St Mary’s to a schools cup it’s been clear that teams he’s involved with win trophies. Keep an eye on Racing Metro 92 versus Saracens (kick off 12.45pm). It’s been a messy two years for Leinster since he went to Paris.

Jimmy Gopperth and Ian Madigan have squeezed Gordon D'Arcy out of the midfield reckoning while O'Connor endeavoured to fast track Ben Te'o's outside centre education. That's six games in a row for Te'o now. It doesn't look like Luke Fitzgerald will be returning from the left wing either.

“It’s a big ask for Ben,” admitted O’Connor, “but he has played in massive games, albeit in a different code, he made Bath D up pretty hard on him. He’s getting better every game.”

True. It’s not that Gopperth-Madigan-Te’o are a poor midfield trio, they simply aren’t Sexton-D’Arcy-O’Driscoll in their prime. Comparisons are unavoidable. The incumbent 10-12 combination play with a looser attacking style that rarely yields silverware.

Madigan landed all six penalties here. That was crucial. It shows his continuing growth as a big game place-kicker. It must be repeated to beat Toulon in Marseilles.

Leinster have crept into a Champions Cup semi-final. All the while waiting for Sexton to come home in July. One more slip up and the Pro 12 play-offs will fade from view. Winning trophies without Sexton still looks highly unlikely.

Bath are not a European force (not yet)

But they can certainly defend. Mike Ford didn't remember a single Leinster line break. The official statistics claim there was two, we remember one – Luke Fitzgerald dancing free from near his own try line. He was emptied before escaping the 22. Bath made seven line breaks and 14 off loads to just four from a cautious Leinster, who kicked from hand 32 times to Bath's 20. This average English pack – Francois Louw aside — got destroyed on the ground, conceding 18 turnovers. No team deserves to make a European semi-final with that last statistic or a 12-4 penalty count in Leinster's favour. And yet, Bath so easily could have won. They could have got that late penalty to bring it to extra-time.

Survivors

This Leinster remain. They have been since the stinging beating suffered at the hands of Munster in the 2008 semi-final. They don't get smashed by anyone anymore. They are a reactive side at present but still, with Ulster and Munster unable to escape their Pools, they remain a European force. "We need to win against Dragons next week to stay alive. That's our bread and butter, that's really important for us." To make the play-offs would be some achievement. They need a bonus point at Rodney Parade.

Consistency

Consistency of performance, lacking so much this season, must come out of Leinster now. Besides Fergus McFadden and Rhys Ruddock all hands are finally on deck. The wonder is whether they have enough time to unearth the necessary consistency after so many absentees and disruptions caused by events outside O'Connor's control.

“The time is less an issue,” said O’Connor. “The fact there is only one focus (now) is important. So you can cram a lot of stuff into that. With the elite guys, the guys who have been around our environment and the test environment a long time they are really quick learners.

“ They adapt and pick up the stuff and drive it forward so from that end you can fit a lot in a little space. We have some massive games coming up and that brings out the character in our squad.”