Thank you for joining me for this thrilling final! Despite an electric start from Leinster, including the fastest try in Champions Cup final history, it is La Rochelle who will return to France with the trophy. A resilient effort in the second half saw them over for their second Champions Cup title and a back-to-back trophy win. To catch up on all the action have a read of Rob Kitson’s report below! Have a good night everyone.
Some differing opinions on the refereeing today, the latest one from Jim Hamilton:
What a match.
— Jim Hamilton (@jimhamilton4) May 20, 2023
People won’t like this.
I thought Jaco Peyper was great. Yes it was carnage at the breakdown. For both teams though.
Congratulations #LaRochelle
Elsewhere in rugby today, Saracens Women booked their spot in the Premier 15s semi-finals with a win over Worcester Warriors. They join Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester-Hartpury who have also already secured their top four spot. Bristol and Harlequins are vying for the final one.
✅ Play-off bound#YourSaracens💫 pic.twitter.com/tIRz8ku7lU
— Saracens Women (@SaracensWomen) May 20, 2023
I’ve just about recovered from that incredible final! I can only imagine the celebrations that are happening in the La Rochelle dressing room. What a final.
Apologies to Leinster, I said they did not get any silverware this season but they have won the BKT URC Irish Shield.
☘️🏆
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) March 4, 2023
Tonight's win ensures that #LeinsterRugby win this season's #BKTURC Irish Shield 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/k92R2TaQJE
And to think Gloucester almost beat La Rochelle in the quarter-final!
La Rochelle coach Ronan O’Gara told ITV: “It’s truly spectacular. We were 17-0 down, I don’t know how they found a way but they found a way. I am very proud of them. That was special, that was probably as hard as you’re going to get but fair play. I don’t think we got the rub of the green from Jaco [Peyper, the referee] either but I have to work with referees so I have to compose myself on that front. For Leo and his staff and team it is horrible. There’s only one team who gets to be satisfied and the other side is deep depression and I want to commend them.”
The winning try:
La Rochelle have fought their way back into this!
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) May 20, 2023
Leinster are down to 14 and now trail by a point!#ITVRugby | #HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/Jm4o6GvOIs
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen told ITV: “It was pretty devastating. We started really well. We probably had some opportunities to be even further ahead in the first half. We just couldn’t quite exit on our terms. You have to give La Rochelle a huge amount of credit. We started well and opposition are going to come back into it. It is the smallest of margins, painful. The players are devastated at the moment, it will take some time to get over.”
Take a look at the trophy lift:
That winning feeling! 🏆 🏆
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) May 20, 2023
A second Champions Cup for La Rochelle!#ITVRugby | #HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/YHXajFAOv3
The entire La Rochelle team have gone over to their fans and clapped the air in unison with them. Their supporters voices were heard throughout the match.
Updated
John has got in touch on Twitter and said: “Chapeau Ronan O’Gara & his players. Big game players make big time plays in big games. We saw a true champions performance from La Rochelle, most teams would have folded after the Leinster first half but top teams fight to the death. Super final.” It really was such a thrilling game. My heart was in my mouth throughout the second half.
Here’s a look at the red card:
Georges-Henri Colombe sees red! 🟥
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) May 20, 2023
A huge turning point in a absorbing match!#ITVRugby | #HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/is5mrFnIYy
It has to be said this stadium hasn’t emptied out, the Leinster fans have remained and applauded the La Rochelle team.
Alldritt and Boudehent hold the trophy together and go over the team. They lower it to the floor and loft it into the air! Yellow and blue streamers fire into the sky, the backroom staff join the jumping celebrations. Ronan O’Gara watches on. What a coach he is.
Updated
La Rochelle are getting their winners medals here now, there are enough fans here from the French club to get a cheer for each player as they go up. The trophy lift incoming!
Updated
A reminder Leinster have only been beaten three times this season and they come away with no silverware. They lost to Munster in the semi-final of the URC and no they have lost the Champions Cup final.
Colombe Reazel is back out on the pitch now celebrating with his teammates, great to see after what looked like an awful collision in the dying moment of that match. Leinster are now collecting their runners-up medals, the drive for five continues.
La Rochelle’s Will Skelton told ITV: “It feels great, Leinster are a top outfit and it showed in that first ten minutes. Credit to our staff and the boys buying into the plan. All week awe spoke about staying in it. Last year we were down by eight and this year we were down by nine so nothing was really different. We knew if we kept the ball we would do damage. Ronan O’Gara is a special man. I’m so tired I can’t talk!”
I was among those who had written La Rochelle off. They had so much possession in the second half but just couldn’t get over the line, their resilience in the end though paid off. Colombe Reazel scored the winning try to claim the trophy by a point. Ronan O’Gara masterclass once again. Just wow.
This game really was in the balance with two minutes to go but Ala’alatoa’s dangerous clear out saw the end of Leinster’s last chance to win. Breath-taking result.
I actually cannot believe what we have just witnessed. The La Rochelle yellow shirts flood the pitch, the tears are flowing. The biggest comeback in Champions Cup final history. What a match. Unbelievable.
Updated
Full-time: Leinster 26-27 La Rochelle
La Rochelle have won their second Champions Cup and in thrilling fashion! They were 17 points down but they have fought back to break Leinster hearts. In the end it was Leinster’s discipline that let them down. What an incredible final.
79 min: La Rochelle get a line-out penalty and surely the trophy is theirs now.
78 min: As a result of the red card La Rochelle have the penalty and Leinster’s opportunity to score is gone. Great officiating there form Peyper, was really quick to stop play when the player was injured.
RED CARD! Leinster 26-27 La Rochelle (Ala’alatoa, 78')
Peyper judges it head-on-head and it’s dangerous and Ala’alatoa is given his marching orders. Colombe Reazel is being stretchered off here, it was the right call.
78 min: I think it is Colombe Reazel who is down injured and on the replays it looks like a Leinster player could be in trouble here, he is knocked clean out from a head-on-head collision. That looks so bad, we hope Colombe Reazel is okay!
78min: It is slightly painful having the birdseye view, there were acres of space for Leinster on the right hand side but they keep going. Peyper blows the whistle though as there looks to be a serious injury, I’m unsure who is down injured. I’ll let you know as soon as I do.
77 min: Phase after phase Leinster pile in, it comes to Ringrose but he can’t get it to a teammate cleanly and La Rochelle get it and clear. But it doesn’t go far and Leinster come again!
76 min: Ngatai has made so many metres, what an effort! They are just a few metres away.
75 min: I am a neutral in this match and I am on the edge of my seat, I don’t know how La Rochelle or Leinster fans are feeling! Leinster’s line-out is good and they are on the hunt.
SIN BIN! Leinster 26-27 La Rochelle (Danty, 74')
There is a yellow! There was a shoulder to the head but the mitigating factor was the player was falling.
74 min: La Rochelle put in a high tackle and Leinster have a penalty but it could be more! Peyper is checking this in case a card needs to be shown.
74 min: I had written La Rochelle out but wow they have blown me away. They have stuck in this and they are ahead for the first time in this match. Leinster are on the charge now but remember they are a player down as Kelleher got the yellow.
CONVERTED TRY! Leinster 26-27 La Rochelle (Colombe Reazel, 72')
Oh my word! La Rochelle are over and Kelleher has a yellow card for the earlier penalty.
Updated
71 min: Leinster have given away another penalty so a yellow should be coming but La Rochelle charge on here.
70 min: Alldritt is held up and Peyper gives a warning to Leinster for repeated penalties as La Rochelle kick to the corner again.
69 min: Kelleher has just been subbed on from Sheehan and he could be in trouble here. It looks like he has stopped this maul rumbling on but I don’t think they are looking at it! Wow, that could have been costly. La Rochelle go for the corner again.
68 min: I think they have looked at a tackle from Ngatai but it’s judged fine. La Rochelle opt to kick to the corner, the kick is a bit short. The line-out is good, La Rochelle storming.
68 min: A Leinster scrum is reset and when it is eventually taken, it wheels round and Kerr-Barlow comes away with it! La Rochelle are storming here! They have the advantage and we come back for it.
Updated
66 min: Gibson Park kicks it out and so La Rochelle have yet another line-out. It is clean and they form a maul again. Can Leinster deal with it again? Yes they can! Obstruction by the French club gives the ball to Leinster. This feels like Leinster are going to win now, La Rochelle just can’t get the try.
64 min: La Rochelle launch yet another attack, they need to score. It is a need right now but Leinster’s defence are having none of it! They turn it over yet again.
Updated
63 min: Gibson Park chips over the top and Rhule goes up for it, O’Brien looks to have done enough to disrupt it by referee Peyper says the La Rochelle man was played in the air. They clear their lines.
61 min: Henshaw is coming off for Leinster, he looks injured – Ngatai is on in his place. Gibson Park received some treatment but he is staying on.
61 min: La Rochelle have it once again, they need to come up with some points for this sustained possession. But my word, Henshaw turns it over! Possession exchanges hands with the kicking game and Dulin’s kick is into the stands. Just over 51,000 at the Aviva.
59 min: La Rochelle collects the kick and are on the march again but Danty makes an uncharacteristic error and drops it! Leinster make another change as Conan is off for Baird. And La Rochelle bring of Sclavi and Colombe.
58 min: Leinster have a scrum in their 22, they have to win it here and clear their lines. There is a reset after Atonio has early input. Kerr-Barlow does well to pressure Conan but Leinster have it and they kick away.
56 min: La Rochelle’s line-out is once again clean and they make great metres from the maul! Talk about an impressive march! The maul eventually comes down and it is expertly done but Porter as Leinster turn it over. That is a huge moment in this final.
55 min: We’re back underway, Henshaw is okay to continue and Skelton has been strapped up to make sure he stays on.
55 min: La Rochelle need something from this attack but Leinster steal it at the breakdown and they come up with nothing. Lowe kicks away, it isn’t a great kick but relieves some pressure. Time is off as Henshaw is receiving some treatment.
55 min: After all the hard work by the likes of Keenan, Lowe kicks out on the full and the play is taken back into Leinster’s half and La Rochelle can squeeze the pressure once more!
54 min: La Rochelle are on the attack again here, the momentum is starting to shift here. The next try score will be instrumental. Dulin attempts a chip over the top but Leinster come away with it. Possession exchanges hands but it ends with Keenan taking a great high ball.
52 min: The line-out is clean and the French club are on the attack. Could they get ahead for the first time? Not this time, Leinster expertly turn it over. Wow, a huge moment! Great composure under pressure to get the ball back.
51 min: Kerr-Barlow charges down a Byrne kick but then it is knocked on from a French player! Wow that was close to a score. But hang on, they have ruled it is not a knock as it came off his head! So a La Rochelle line-out. Sazy is off and Lavault is on for La Rochelle.
PENALTY! Leinster 26-20 La Rochelle (Hastoy, 49')
Wow, this final!
49 min: They form a maul but they have to run it out quickly. The French club win a breakdown penalty, it will be interesting to see what call they make here. Hastoy points to the sticks! Understandable as if he slots it it will take them to less than a converted try away.
48 min: Gibson Park tries a clearance box kick but it was taken back into his 22 and then it is out on the full, so we come back for a La Rochelle line-out in the 22!
47 min: This is on a knife-edge! I could not call who is going to win this.
Updated
PENALTY! Leinster 26-17 La Rochelle (Byrne, 46')
The nine point lead is restored!
45 min: Leinster won a penalty before kicking it through and Byrne points to the sticks.
45 min: So much action I can hardly keep up! Alldritt knocks on and Leinster have a good position and they make their first change. Furlong is off for Alla’alatoa. Leinster have a scrum and they come away with it, they kick through and Kerr-Barlow ensures Gibson Park isn’t over! Wow.
PENALTY! Leinster 23-17 La Rochelle (Hastoy, 43')
He slots it!
43 min: Seuteni makes an unbelievable break! They keep going through the phases but Leinster give away a penalty, Hastoy points to the sticks.
Updated
42 min: La Rochelle eventually kick away after having no luck through the phases, Lowe takes it in and Leinster clear. La Rochelle get it back and here they come!
42 min: It looks as though Ryan may have failed his HIA and so Jenkins will remain on for this second half – I’ll update you if Ryan does reappear. La Rochelle start the half with an attack.
Back underway! Leinster 23-14 La Rochelle
A huge 40 minutes to come! It is all to play for when many would have ruled La Rochelle out after seven minutes.
Olive has emailed a fun fact: “Interesting point re the yellow card. La Rochelle ‘won’ it 7-5. Leinster frequently scored two tries on another team’s yellow card.” La Rochelle really did play out the sin bin well, a lot of the time was ran down in the build-up to their opening try.
The fastest try in Champions Cup final history:
⚡️ FORTY SECONDS! ⚡️
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) May 20, 2023
Leinster undo La Rochelle at the set-piece for the fastest try in a Champions Cup final!#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/jJg3U28LmK
John McEnery has got in touch on Twitter and said: “Incredible start from Leinster but champion teams always find a way to get back into games. True test of LaR’s character & for Leinster also.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.
A fun fact for you, that is the most points scored in the first half of a Champions Cup final ever!
Half-time: Leinster 23-14 La Rochelle
Leinster had a lightning start to this game, Sheehan scoring the fastest try in Champions Cup history. They continued to inflict more points on the French club but they have remained in this and have scored two tries themselves to be within nine points! The final is finely poised. What a match.
CONVERTED TRY! Leinster 23-14 La Rochelle (Seuteni, 38')
Well how about this! The holders kept hammering the line and eventually Henshaw is pincered in and a hole opens up! Hastoy gets the conversion and La Rochelle are right back in this.
Updated
37 min: La Rochelle are on the attack here, Atonio making some good metres. Phase after phase and the French club are so close.
36 min: My word that was close! Some messy rugby sees a loose ball and it ends with Keenan coming tot he rescue over the try line! Kerr-Barlow went down with injury, he is okay to continue, but there was a late shot on him.
35 min: The French line-out is good and they form a maul, they then run it but the ball is loose and Leinster have it! O’Brien kicks away and the kicking game comes into the game. A few are exchanged and eventually La Rochelle decide to run it.
33 min: Back underway with a Leinster line-out and they come away with it cleanly. But they lose a breakdown penalty just moments later! This final is so back and forth, Leinster are so dominant but they have given the ball away to give La Rochelle a glimmer of hope at times.
33 min: The effort ends with Bourgarit holding Sheehan on the floor, a cheap penalty to give away with La Rochelle were in a good position. Botia receives some treatment so there is a slight break in play.
32 min: Lowe kicks away after a restart but it is just shy of halfway, La Rochelle with a good position here. they form a maul and march on, eventually itis grounded.
PENALTY! Leinster 23-7 La Rochelle (Byrne, 31')
Again he adds the points, Leinster streaming away with this now.
30 min: Ryan is off for a HIA, after his dominant tackle he didn’t get back to his feet well. Jenkins is on for him. Byrne points to the sticks from the penalty.
29 min: Leinster turn it over! That came from a great Ringrose tackle, tempers are fraying with pushing and shoving coming into it. Skelton and Henshaw having some words. The referee persistently blowing his whistle but it takes some time to separate the players. Time is off for the officials to have a word to make sure the behaviour doesn’t happen again.
29 min: A cracking tackle from Ryan pins LA Rochelle in their own 22, the crowd erupt in applause! Hastoy kicks away and Lowe has it but La Rochelle turn it over at the breakdown!
28 min: La Rochelle then win a scrum penalty, Hastoy kick away to relieve some pressure. What a final it has been so far! Possession exchanges hands but La Rochelle are currently on the attack.
26 min: The Leinster line-out is clean but again they knock-on afterwards. Boos ring around the stadium as a replay shows Alldritt hitting the ball out of Gibson Park’s hands but the No 8 is seasoned and makes sure he hit the nine’s wrist – a play he is allowed to do.
25 min: Some may have wanted Leinster to kick to the corner from that penalty but slotting that kick would have made a dent in La Rochelle’s mentality after scoring their first points of the game. Danty has now given away another penalty as he was offside. Byrne kicks to the corner.
PENALTY! Leinster 20-7 La Rochelle (Byrne, 23)
He slots it! Leinster have a 13 point lead.
22 min: Leinster win a breakdown penalty as Botia holds on. Byrne has pointed to the sticks.
21 min: Kerr-Barlow is back and La Rochelle is back with 15 men. With all the action I didn’t tell you why he was sent to the sin bin, it was for an early tackle on Gibson Park. A huge caterpillar ruck from La Rochelle to get out of their own 22.
CONVERTED TRY! Leinster 17-7 La Rochelle (Danty, 20')
We are back underway and La Rochelle opt for a scrum once again. This time they run it and Danty pounces! What a class finish from the centre. They have checked it as he dotted down with one hand but he controlled it! Hastoy has the extras, could this be the start of a famous comeback?
Updated
18 min: This time the scrum is good and La Rochelle come away with it. Alldritt controls the ball and they are over the line but it seems it has been held up. The French side have the penalty though, there is a break in play as Porter gets some blood mopped off of his forehead.
17 min: The scrum fails and the referee gives the front row a warning ahead of re-setting. Again it is reset as the front row aren’t holding their weight.
15 min: It is a good line-out and maul drive but Leinster manage to bring it down legally and turn it over. However, Lowe knocks on and so La Rochelle have another chance in the 22.
15 min: Not just yet as we come back for the advantage. Hastor kicks to the corner, this is a good opportunity to take some of the wind out of Leinster’s sails.
14 min: Well this is a lot more one-sided than many would have predicted. Leinster would have been the favourites going in but this is unbelievable, they have blown them away. La Rochelle are on the attack now, can they get some points on the board?
TRY! Leinster 17-0 La Rochelle (Sheehan, 12')
Sheehan again! His line-out is loose but Leinster win it back and then majestic work from Gibson Park sees him lay off to Sheehan who is over again. Byrne’s kick bounces off the posts again!
Updated
SIN BIN! Leinster 12-0 La Rochelle (Kerr-Barlow, 11')
And the attack ends in a Leinster penalty! Gibson Park is immediately into action and then Byrne goes for a crossfield kick. And it gets worse for the French as Kerr-Barlow gets his marching orders
9 min: The French club have their first period of sustained possession but they are yet to get into Leinster’s half. Alldritt has a good carry to see them over halfway but they are a bit loose. So far they still have it but they don’t look confident with it.
8 min: I really thought this game would be more of a close battle. La Rochelle need to do something soon or Leinster will crush them.
TRY! Leinster 12-0 La Rochelle (O'Brien, 6')
This is going to be a long afternoon for the French club! The attack from the scrum is amazing, slick passes and a pinpoint pass from Gibson Park to O’Brien sees him over. Byrne’s conversion bounces off the post.
Updated
5 min: Not a try this time! The line-out was good but Porter’s offload to Sheehan was knocked on, the first try of the game to come. Leinster come away with it and they are on the attack.
4 min: Conan makes another break, he is having a blinder so far! Sheehan has another line-out and it works well and it comes to Lowe who slots a 50:22. Wow! Another line-out to come, another try?
3 min: That is the fastest Champions Cup final try ever! Huge start, the crowd are fully in this now.
CONVERTED TRY! Leinster 7-0 La Rochelle (Sheehan, 1)
Wow, wow, wow! Dulin sliced the kick from the start and Sheehan shaped a good line-out. Conan collected and made a great run, laying the ball back to Sheehan who is over! Sexton celebrates in the stands. Leinster have a perfect start. Byrne has the conversion.
Updated
Kick-off! Leinster 0-0 La Rochelle
Here we go! One of the biggest matches in the rugby calendar is underway.
The players will soon be out on the pitch at the Aviva! Will Leinster finally get their drive for five over the line? Or will La Rochelle break their hearts once more? We will find out soon enough!
Updated
And the TV has decided to cut out, I have switched to BT Sport on the laptop! I was prepared for this eventuality!
The signal on my TV is unbelievably patchy, why do these things happen when you need things to run smoothly? Don’t fret though I can still hear the commentary so you won’t miss any action!
It is the last match of the season for Leinster after they lost the URC semi-final to Munster. This means it will be their chance to say goodbye to captain Johnny Sexton, who will retire after the Rugby World Cup, legends like Dave Kearney and coach Stuart Lancaster who are both also leaving. Andrew Porter said of saying bye to players: “We want to send them off on a high, but it is more for the wider group, for everyone who has contributed this week and put in the work for that jersey and some lads have had to hang up the jerseys early this season in terms of ‘JT’ [James Tracy and Charlie Ryan, who retired due to injury]. It’s for guys like that, who have given so much to this club and unfortunately aren’t with us but have given a lot of their lives to this.”
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has said: “You can’t fault the lads, they have prepared unbelievably well this week and I can’t wait to see them play and deliver something close to their best, that is all they can do. Pressure is a good thing, we all want to be here so it is the most positive pressure we could ask for. We hope to have a great turnout of supporters and that everyone gets behind the team.”
La Rochelle coach Ronan O’Gara has spoken ahead of the final and said: “There is a certain enjoyment factor when you go into the lion’s den. We will either grow or shrink. We have high standards and we have ambition to do something special in these players’ lives. We have the chance to play for each other in the final of a European Cup. It doesn’t get any bigger and it doesn’t get any better, we are here and we are ready to go.”
Speaking of a Wales rugby player, there were two massive shocks in the Wales rugby world yesterday when Justin Tipuric and Alun Wyn Jones both announced their retirement from international rugby. That is despite being named in the training squad for the Rugby World Cup which begins in September. Read about the surprise news:
The Challenge Cup final happened last night and it was a one-sided affair. Toulon blew Glasgow Warriors out of the water in a 43-19 win but it wasn’t all rosy for the French side after they lost Dan Biggar early on after he failed a HIA. There haven’t been any concrete updates on Biggar’s condition yet, a nervous wait for Toulon and Wales fans. Read the report:
It is such a beautiful day today, are you watching the rugby in a sunny pub garden? Or are you keeping up to date with the action over a BBQ? Let me know what you are up to via Twitter or email.
Updated
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!
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 20, 2023
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
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.
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.
