The 2000-01 season was Leinster's sixth season under professionalism, and their first under head coach Matt Williams, their former backs coach, replacing Mike Ruddock, who had returned to Wales to coach Ebbw Vale.
Player transfers
Players in Andy Dunne from Old Belvedere Eddie Hekenui Simon Keogh from Old Belvedere Eric Miller from UlsterJonathan McConnell, "Ulster recruit South Africans", ESPN Scrum, 23 June 2000 James Norton from Dublin University Brian O'Meara from Munster Kevin Putt from London Irish Rory Sheriff from Terenure Nathan Turner from Oldham Bears
Players out Brian Cusack to Lansdowne Barry Everitt to London Irish Stu Forster Gareth Gannon to St Mary's Angus McKeen to Lansdowne Ciaran Scally (retired) Dan WhistonTony Ward, "Munster High Kings can reign supreme", Irish Independent, 1 September 2000
Squad
Leinster Rugby squadProps Emmet Byrne Reggie Corrigan Peter Coyle Gary Halpin
Hookers James Blaney Shane Byrne Peter Smyth
Locks Bob Casey Leo Cullen Gabriel Fulcher Malcolm O'KellyBack row Trevor Brennan Victor Costello Colin McEntee Eric Miller Declan O'Brien Liam Toland
Scrum-halves Derek Hegarty Brian O'Meara Kevin Putt
Fly-halves Andy Dunne Emmett Farrell Eddie Hekenui Mark McHugh Nathan TurnerCentres Shane Horgan Brian O'Driscoll Rory Sheriff Nathan Turner
Wings Gordon D'Arcy Denis Hickie (c) Simon Keogh Peter McKenna John McWeeney James Norton
Fullbacks Girvan Dempsey G. Dunphy (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for Ireland on residency or dual nationality.
IRFU Interprovincial Championship
Team P W D LFA BPPts Status 6 5 1 0 151 99 1 23 Champions; qualified for 2001–02 Heineken Cup 6 3 0 3 144 119 3 15 Qualified for 2001–02 Heineken Cup 6 2 1 3 109 111 2 12 Qualified for 2001–02 Heineken Cup 6 1 0 5 100 175 1 5 Qualified for 2001–02 European Challenge Cup
Heineken Cup
Pool 1 TeamPWDLTries forTries againstTry diffPoints forPoints againstPoints diffPts Biarritz Olympique64021320−7164152128 Edinburgh Reivers631217125154141137 Leinster63121314−1149156−77 Northampton610517143138156−182
Edinburgh finished above Leinster despite having a lower points difference, as the first tie-breaker was the results in the two matches between the teams.ERC Rugby – Key Rules
References