There was "minimal" satisfaction in Leinster's Champions Cup quarter-final victory for Jack Conan and his colleagues.
"There's not a whole lot of enjoyment, to be honest," admitted the Blues' no 8. "It's relief.
"There wasn't mad celebrations, or acting like we'd won anything. We were miles off our best and barely did enough to get over the line.
"The nature of professional rugby is that nothing is ever enough. Playing in a semi-final has no relevance just because we won a final last year.
"It's very short-lived. The highs are so intense but very brief. It's about enjoying them and celebrating them as a group and as a squad.
"We've been talking to Dan (Leavy) and it's tough to see a mate like that go off in such an amount of pain."
Leo Cullen insists it's 'all up for grabs' as Leinster get out of jail against Ulster
Conan set up Leinster's second try at a vital time in a thrilling see-saw encounter with Ulster on Saturday, his enterprising break and off-load presenting Adam Byrne with the golden chance to score.
"We just spoke about the fact that, compared to last season where we were hunting people and hunting a trophy, now we’re being chased," explained the back row.
"Everybody wants to beat us and be champions. We’ve a target on our back.
"If we chose to remain as we were last year and not develop and not be better, people were going to be better and beat us.
"We sat down earlier in the year and said it’s not good enough to do what we did last year to go and win again - to get a fifth star and do the double, we’re going to have to be better.
"It’s not an easy thing to do because obviously we’re champions but we’re always pushing each other - the coaches Leo, Stuart, Fogs, Fil, we’re always pushing standards and demand the absolute best and most from each other.
"We win things in Leinster because of it.
“I think it’s easier to hunt teams. I think the success will be greater if everyone wants to beat us and we still come out on top.
"There's still a lot to be done, I’m not saying we’re there yet. There's so much to do, it’s a long, long road. But Saturday is another step towards that".
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