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Our very own Rob Kitson has written about the upcoming match, have a read: “To be a Leinster player or supporter this weekend is to be standing at an era-defining junction. One way lies the sweetest of dreams: a record-equalling fifth gold star on the blue jersey and Champions Cup immortality. The other leads straight to their worst nightmare: another painful knockout defeat at the hands of their all-too-familiar bogeyman.” Read the full piece here:
La Rochelle are looking to add a second Champions Cup to their club history after winning the competition for the first time last season. Leinster, meanwhile, are bidding for their fifth Champions Cup – the last time they claimed the title was in 2018.
Rugby pundit Ugo Monye has written a column about where the final will be won and lost, here’s a snippet: “There is a desperation about Leinster to finally get their hands on their fifth title, they’ve had the benefit of playing all their knockout matches at the Aviva Stadium, but desperation is not something you can rely on in elite sport. The one question mark still hangs over Leinster and it is how they can handle a team as physically dominant as La Rochelle.” You can read the full piece here:
What a cracking fun fact:
📘 | 𝐀 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬!
Cian Healy will today become the first player to feature in SEVEN European Finals…
And add in a Challenge Cup Final for good measure too! pic.twitter.com/DdbPb4ZaTB
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 20, 2023
The team news is here! Let’s start with Leinster and they have made two changes from their Champions Cup semi-final starting XV with Robbie Henshaw replacing Charlie Ngatai and James Lowe in on the wing in place of Jordan Lamour.
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Leinster: Keenan; O’Brien, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Byrne, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, Molony, Ryan (captain), Doris, Van der Flier, Conan
Replacements: Kelleher, Healy, Ala’alatoa, Jenkins, Baird, McGrath, Frawley, Ngatai.
La Rochelle have also made two changes to their starting 15 from the semi. Jules Favre has been benched in favour of Jonathan Danty and Pierre Boudehent comes in in place of Ultan Dillane.
La Rochelle: Dulin; Leyds, Seuteni, Danty, Rhule; Hastoy, Kerr-Barlow; Wardi, Bourgarit, Atonio, Sazy, Skelton, Boudehent, Botia, Alldritt (captain)
Replacements: Lespiaucq, Sclavi, Colomber Reazel, Lavault, Bourdeau, Dillane, Berjon, Favre.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to the Champions Cup final where defending champions La Rochelle will be attempting to keep their trophy. They will have to fend off an impressive and almost impenetrable Leinster side to do it but they have beaten tough opposition to get to the final this season.
La Rochelle were the menace for English teams as they knocked out Saracens in the quarter-final and then defeated Exeter Chiefs in the semi. But Leinster create a whole new challenge. The Irish club have only been defeated twice in all competitions this season.
Leinster destroyed Leicester Tigers in the quarter-final and inflicted a high score on Toulouse in the semi as well. The Irish side also have home advantage as the final is being played at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
The form of both clubs in today’s final should mean it is a tasty battle and one where supporters will be on the edge of their seats. If you’re a neutral for this one just sit back and enjoy the rugby that will unfold!
The team news is already out so stay tuned for updates ahead of kick-off at 4.45pm BST.
