EUROPE’S REAL INVINCIBLES Scapegoated by England, Lancaster now leads Leinster - pro rugby’s only unbeaten side - who would be handy in the Six Nations

WHO have been the best rugby union team in Europe this season?

England? The

Six Nations table says so. France? On their day maybe.

Here’s another suggestion – the side that Saracens should have been playing in the Heineken Cup quarterfinal today, Leinster.

The Irish province are the continent’s only unbeaten professional side this season with a perfect record.

They have played 19, won 19 and averaged five tries a game. They were favourites to take Europe’s club title until the season was halted.

Had they been allowed to enter the Six Nations with Johnny Sexton, Garry Ringrose and James Lowe in their ranks it would have been interesting to see where they finished.

There is a case to be made for them beating Italy, Scotland, Wales and even Ireland. France, if it was the version last seen at Murrayfield, might have fallen too.

As for England, maybe they would have been too powerful, but it would have been a fun game.

Stuart Lancaster, blown out by England after a dire 2015 World Cup, against his successor Eddie Jones. What’s not to like?

Lancaster (left), back at home in Leeds because of the lockdown, will not be drawn into this fantasy Six Nations, but offers this insight into his Leinster side.

“I do this exercise with Leinster. I clip up a game – England-wales say or Scotland-france – and ask the players, ‘If we were playing this team, how would we beat them?’” he said.

“I wouldn’t be as arrogant as to say Leinster would beat any of those sides, but we have some very good players and the occasion in international rugby sometimes blinds people to the quality.

“Internationally you are trying to integrate players from different clubs or provinces in a short period so they can deliver under pressure and that is a challenge.

“You have a huge amount more time as a coach at provincial level and that can show in the cohesion of your team.”

With the success Leinster (above) have enjoyed under him and director of rugby Leo Cullen, Lancaster is likely to be a wanted man in the Premiership when his contract expires at the end of next season.

But the question he fires back is why would he swap what he has now.

“With the age profile of the squad and what we have coming through, Leinster will have to do something badly wrong not to be at the top for a long time to come,” he added.

With Europe mothballed and the Pro14 suspended indefinitely, this could well be it for their season.

Leinster could go down as the 2019-20 invincibles, but without a trophy to show for it.

“Who knows how it is going to play out? In the bigger picture it doesn’t matter anyway set against the coronavirus fight,” added Lancaster.

“But the one thing I’ll be drip-feeding through to the players is that we pick up where we left off when we eventually play again.”

An ominous warning for the rest of Europe.