Leinster won the key moments, according to Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton, as he helped his side into the European Cup semi-finals with a 30-19 win over reigning champions Saracens.
Sexton, who lifted the NatWest 6 Nations title with Ireland just two weeks ago, was back in club colours for the first time and kicked 13 points at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
The ground, which hosted three of Ireland’s Championship games, was sold out for the clash with fellow Ireland international Dan Leavy putting in a man of the match display.
Click here for the final standings in the 2018 NatWest 6 Nations
Leavy and Ireland centre Garry Ringrose both got tries with James Lowe also getting over the line for Leinster.
The Irish side will face Scarlets in the semi-final with Munster travelling to Racing 92 in the second last four tie of Europe’s elite club competition.
“I think for all the big games, they come down to small moments and whoever can win those little moments win the game,” said Sexton.
“That moment before half-time was a big moment, the boys held them out at the line-out and it comes down to those small little things.
“Everything was about the result today, we’re delighted to get into the semi-final and we’re trying to replicate what these boys (Saracens) have done over the last few years.
“We’re trying to learn from them (Saracens), and we knew if we were going to win the European Cup we were going to have to beat Saracens at some stage.
“Scarlets will have no fear, they beat us here in the semis last year in the league so it’s going to be a tough game again.”
In the other quarter-final on Sunday, France scrum-half Maxime Machenaud kicked four penalties and two conversions to help Racing 92 to a 28-17 win over Clermont Auvergne.
Leone Nakarawa and Peter Betham exchanged first-half tries with Marc Andreu and Boris Palu going over in the second half to secure the win for Racing 92.
France scrum-half Morgan Parra kicked four penalties for hosts Clermont but it wasn’t enough as Racing 92 progressed to the last four.
