Bernard Jackman says he can't back Leinster to win the BKT United Rugby Championship until he sees it happen, adding that it’s unlikely to make amends for their Champions Cup elimination.
The province haven’t lifted silverware since March 2021 when they won the old Pro14 championship, with three European final and three URC semi-final defeats in that time.
The recent Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton Saints has ramped up the pressure on the province, after they were stunned by the Premiership champions at the Aviva, in one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
That defeat came at a further cost, with captain Caelan Doris ruled out for between four and six months with a shoulder injury, with his surgery costing him a place on the British and Irish Lions tour.
Asked if he still considered the top-seed Leinster to be favourites for the URC title this season without Doris, Jackman delivered a withering reply.
"I’ve lost all confidence in Leinster in a knockout game," he told the RTE Rugby podcast.
"Honestly, I actually think Caelan Doris [being absent] isn't the issue because Jack Conan is so good, or if Dan Sheehan gets injured, Ronán Kelleher [comes in].
"It’s not the depth that’s the problem, it's the lack of ability to close out knockout rugby and tight games, until they start doing that consistently.
"Even a once-off isn't going to do it now. I’ve been led down the path so often by them, seeing them playing brilliant rugby, and then bang: it breaks up.
"Obviously they should win the URC, but until they actually do start winning trophies I can’t be completely confident in them."
The province host Glasgow Warriors in their final game of the regular season on Saturday, but have already secured the top seed for the play-offs, which will guarantee them home advantage for as long as they remain in the competition.
A stacked Leinster outfit trounced Zebre Parma 76-5 last Saturday in their first game since the defeat to Northampton.
But Jackman cited dressing room footage from the Saints at the Aviva Stadium last week as an example that the province have lost their fear factor in close games.
He said: "They came like they had no interest. It was pathetic from them [Zebre].
"Leinster put them away, but it doesn't heal anything. I’m not even sure if lifting the URC trophy, if they can do it, would make up for the disappointment of Europe. Obviously that’s the only thing they can do now.
"Knockout rugby, you heard the Northampton footage around behind the scenes, and what they were saying about Leinster.
"Everyone would say that now. They have this doubt around their mentality, a doubt around their ability to close out knockout rugby and until they start doing that on a consistent basis, it’s going to grow and grow.
"This weekend is another match for them, but the quarter-final, semi-final, final if they get there, they need to start showing more resilience.
"Bigger tests lie ahead, and I think everybody is waiting to see how they react to being challenged."
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Watch Leinster v Glasgow in the URC on Saturday from 7pm on the RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
