The November international break will give Leinster boss Leo Cullen time to reflect on his side's opening block in which the defending BKT URC champions won just two out of five games.
Minus their Lions contingent, Leinster travelled to face Stormers and Bulls but returned from South Africa with just a solitary bonus point.
There were signs of improvement in the home win over Sharks as they welcomed back a number of summer tourists, however, they struggled against Munster in Croke Park despite being able to call upon 12 of the British and Irish Lions.
Saturday’s 50-26 win over a game Zebre at Aviva Stadium ticked a lot of boxes for Leinster, who were missing 22 international players, while they were able to hand provincial debuts to six players, including out-half Caspar Gabriel (below) and front row Bobby Sheehan, brother of Ireland hooker Dan.
"We need to pause, just review what has happened in the first five games," said Cullen.
"It’s very unusual coming off the Lions [tour].
"Guys a little bit cold going into that South Africa trip.
"What could we have done differently because clearly we didn’t get the desired outcomes that we would like for those Lions guys coming back.
"Let’s reflect on that.
"Could we have done things differently because we’ve two wins from five games.
"That’s not what we set out to achieve.
"We need to reflect on that and do I need to do things differently, how I message the group?
"How we set the group up because we’re in the middle of the pack of the table."
The nine-time league champions sit in seventh place and are next in action away to second-from-bottom Dragons on Friday 28 November.
After that, they take on Harlequins and Leicester in the Champions Cup
"It's bit of a time to reflect now and how do we get better for this next block of games," added the 47-year-old former Ireland lock.
"Because we need to really attack the block of games, what’s coming up."
Elsewhere, Ulster’s winning run came to a halt in Ellis Park where they fell to a 49-31 loss to Lions.
Richie Murphy's side did come away with a try-bonus point and were in touching distance before the hosts scored three tries in the final nine minutes.
Robert Baloucoune, who ran in a hat-trick, was outstanding, while James Hume and Dave McCann also scored tries.
The result, allied with the victory over Sharks in round four, leaves Ulster, who have played a game less, in fifth place on 16 points.
"It's a difficult one to take in the end, we're in that game for 55, 60 minutes and let it get away from us in the end," said Murphy, whose side host Benetton after the break.
"Over the course of the game, our error count was probably too high and we just invited the Lions into the game.
"Scrum dominance from them put us under a lot of pressure, but it's a massive effort from the players in a very tough situation, 28 or 29 degrees at altitude, it's not an easy place to be.
"You're never satisfied when you've lost a game that was in the balance at 60 minutes. Six points is a decent return, but we're still hurting today.
"It's really important when we get back into Belfast against Benetton in a few weeks that we flick the switch and get back to winning ways.
"[Rob Baloucoune was] "incredible.
"We have an embarrassment of riches in the back three. Zac [Ward] has been on fire, Werner [Kok] has been really good and Mikey [Lowry]'s flying.
"Having Rob back is fantastic. He got through another full game, which is exciting for us, and long may that fitness level continue."
Munster are the best of the Irish sides with Clayton McMillan’s recording five wins out of five.
They are joint top on 23 points, just behind Stormers on points difference with the sides meeting in Limerick in the first game after the break.
Connacht, who lost to Munster, 17-15, at the weekend are 12th in the table on nine points.
Stuart Lancaster’s men host the Sharks at Dexcom Stadium at the end of November.
