With the Vodacom Bulls, Emirates Lions, Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers preparing for their first foray into Europe in the Rainbow Cup, which kicks off 24 April, there would have been increased interest by the local coaches as Leinster delivered an emphatic display to defeat Munster 16-6 in Dublin.

The game provided confirmation of Leinster’s dominance rather than serving as a revelation, as the team netted their fourth consecutive title, building on the four previous titles they earned since the inception of the competition.

Similarly to the Crusaders’ domination in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition, SA’s teams will look to challenge Leinster’s supremacy as they look ahead to the PRO14 Rainbow Cup and subsequent 16-team Pro Rugby competition.

Leinster’s clinical and efficient play has allowed them to strangle their opposition and deny them possession, and this is exactly what they did against Munster this past weekend and Ulster in last season’s final.

While all three of these teams are some way ahead of the rest of the field, Leinster are in turn a considerable way ahead of Munster and Ulster, and the SA teams will be wary of this going into the competition.

While Munster improved this season and won their conference comfortably, Leinster weren’t going to let them in during the final.

Leinster also have their eye on Champions Cup glory, and it will be interesting to see how they progress in the playoff stages after being knocked out by Saracens in the quarter-final last year.

With the team showing few flaws throughout the Guinness PRO14, the South African teams will be certain to keep an eye out for those exposed by the European teams.

Guinness PRO14 results:

Final: Leinster 16-6 Munster
Dragons 24-17 Edinburgh (postponed match)
Glasgow Warriors 46-25 Benetton (postponed match)

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