Heineken Champions Cup Final: Leinster v La Rochelle

Having bottled up the pain of last season’s European exit, Leinster have a chance to gain revenge on La Rochelle and lift the Heineken Champions Cup for the fifth time in Marseille.

HEINEKEN CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL: Saturday, May 28

LEINSTER v LA ROCHELLE, Stade Vélodrome, 5.45pm local time/4.45pm Irish time (live Virgin Media Two/Channel 4/BT Sport 2/beIN Sports/France 2/Sky Italia/RTÉ Radio 1/highlights Virgin Media Two)

Team News: For today’s Heineken Champions Cup final against La Rochelle in Marseille, Leinster will field the same 23 players that overcame Toulouse a fortnight ago.

Tadhg Furlong and James Lowe have shaken off their respective ankle and shin injuries to start, while hooker Ronan Kelleher has passed the graduated return-to-play protocols.

21-year-old Academy lock Joe McCarthy, a European debutant in the semi-final, features on the bench and versatile back Ciaran Frawley, who picked up a facial injury against Munster, is also part of the matchday 23.

As Leinster aim for their fifth Champions Cup title, and first since 2018, there are a number of milestones being reached this weekend, namely for centres Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw and veteran prop Cian Healy.

Ringrose will make his 100 Leinster appearance, Henshaw hits the 50-match mark in the Champions Cup, and Healy is set to play his 100th game in Europe – 97th in the top tier competition.

Captain Jonathan Sexton and Jamison Gibson-Park spearhead the Blues’ back-line again, with Lowe combining with two first-time Champions Cup finalists, Hugo Keenan and Jimmy O’Brien, in the back-three.

Kelleher and Furlong will pack down with Andrew Porter, supported from the second row by the in-form Ross Molony and James Ryan.

Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier, two of the nominees for the EPCR European Player of the Year award, complete the province’s starting XV alongside fellow back rower Jack Conan, at number 8.

Leo Cullen and his fellow coaches will be able to call on Dan Sheehan, Healy, Michael Ala’alatoa, McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne and Frawley from the bench.

Leinster have met La Rochelle just once before in the Champions Cup, with Ronan O’Gara’s charges triumphing 32-23 at home during the semi-final stage last season.

It will be the fifth time that an Irish team has faced a Top 14 club in a European Cup final, with Irish sides having won on each of the previous four occasions – including Leinster against Racing 92 in Bilbao four years ago.

This is Leinster’s sixth European Cup final appearance. Saracens handed them their only defeat in the showpiece game, back in 2019 in Newcastle.

Centre Henshaw has experience of lifting the trophy and also missing out against Sarries, the Athlone man saying: “I think it means everything. Looking back on previous years we’ve come up short. We’re eager to do it this time and everyone is.

“It’s huge for Leinster. The history of this competition, it’s such a special competition to win. There’s a really good sense of excitement, nerves and buzz around the place. It’s brilliant.

“Three years has been a long time (getting back to the final). Especially throughout what everyone has been through in the past couple of years (with the Covid-19 pandemic), it feels longer (almost).

“As a group we’ve done a lot of learning over the last three years. We’ve looked back and we’ve looked at where we’ve come up short in those games.

“We’ve done the learning and now it’s time to take action and make sure we don’t have to go through another year (of learning).”

Meanwhile, La Rochelle head coach O’Gara has made four personnel changes to the team that battled past Racing 92 on a 20-13 scoreline in Lens two weeks ago.

Two of them are injury-enforced with New Zealand pair Tawera Kerr-Barlow, who has two broken bones in his left hand, and Victor Vito (ankle) making way for Thomas Berjon and Matthias Haddad respectively.

Brice Dulin returns at full-back and there is a surprise start for giant Australian international Will Skelton. who features in the second row after getting 13 minutes under his belt in the Top 14 last weekend.

A calf injury had threatened to end Skelton’s season prematurely, but he has been rated fit to start against a Leinster side that he impressed against during the 2019 final, while playing for Saracens, and 13 months ago in the colours of La Rochelle.

Out-half Ihaia West is hoping to recapture the form which saw him score 22 points against Cullen’s men last year. Centre Jonathan Danty, one of France’s most impressive players during their Grand Slam run, is another player to watch out for.

LEINSTER: Hugo Keenan; Jimmy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Jonathan Sexton (capt), Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Ross Molony, James Ryan, Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy, Michael Ala’alatoa, Joe McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Ciaran Frawley.

LA ROCHELLE: Brice Dulin; Dillyn Leyds, Jérémy Sinzelle, Jonathan Danty, Raymond Rhule; Ihaia West, Thomas Berjon; Dany Priso, Pierre Bourgarit, Uini Atonio, Thomas Lavault, Will Skelton, Wiaan Liebenberg, Matthias Haddad, Grégory Alldritt (capt).

Replacements: Facundo Bosch, Reda Wardi, Joel Sclavi, Romain Sazy, Remi Bourdeau, Arthur Retiere, Levani Botia, Jules Favre.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley, Christophe Ridley (both England)
Television Match Official: Tom Foley (England)

Pre-Match Quotes: Leo Cullen (Leinster) – “It’ll be a fantastic occasion, two great teams going at it. It’ll be warm, the conditions will be excellent tomorrow. Tadhg Furlong and James Lowe, they’ve been okay the two of them.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the two guys play. They weren’t a major concern from our point of view. We were hugely disappointed with the way last season ended. There’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears that go into a campaign to get you back to this point.

“It’s off the back of so much hard work, sacrifice, dedication, attention to detail and all the rest. You’ve got two teams that are hugely motivated to win this tournament, so we’re hoping for a great occasion.

“You get to this point and you’re just dying for the kick-off really and (to) let the players go at it.”

Ronan O’Gara (La Rochelle) – “It’s a massive boost (to have Will Skelton back). I don’t think you can overestimate what he will do for our team. There are very few players in the world like him.

“It’s been a really careful plan trying to get him to this stage. It’s delicate when you have a frame like he has. He’s ready to go. Obviously, he’ll be shy in game-time but there’s a serious professional hidden behind him, working in the shade.

“I’ve experienced every emotion with Johnny (Sexton) and I respect him a lot. I enjoy his mindset, and I enjoy how he goes about his business. He’s going to be 37 in July and that’s some achievement to be playing the way he is at the minute.

“We need to get stuck into him, that’s the biggest compliment I can give him because I think they play differently when he’s on the pitch.”

Current Form – Leinster – (United Rugby Championship): Won 31-3 v Vodacom Bulls (home), Won 7-6 v Dragons (away), Won 43-7 v Zebre Parma (home), Won 50-15 v Scarlets (home), Won 31-15 v Glasgow Warriors (away), Lost 20-10 v Ulster (home), Won 47-19 v Connacht (home); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 45-20 v Bath (home), Match cancelled & result awarded to Montpellier (28-0) v Montpellier (away), Won 89-7 v Montpellier (home), Won 64-7 v Bath (away); (United Rugby Championship): Lost 29-27 v Cardiff Rugby (away), Won 26-7 v Edinburgh (home), Won 29-7 v Ospreys (home), Won 21-13 v Emirates Lions (home), Won 61-17 v Benetton Rugby (away), Lost 18-13 v Ulster (away), Won 45-8 v Connacht (away), Won 34-19 v Munster (away); (Heineken Champions Cup round of 16): Won 26-21 v Connacht (away), Won 56-20 v Connacht (home); (United Rugby Championship): Lost 28-23 v Cell C Sharks (away), Lost 20-13 v DHL Stormers (away); (Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final): Won 23-14 v Leicester Tigers (away); (Heineken Champions Cup semi-final): Won 40-17 v Toulouse (home); (United Rugby Championship): Won 35-25 v Munster (home)

La Rochelle – (Top 14 Championship): Lost 20-16 v Toulouse (home), Lost 23-10 v Racing 92 (away), Lost 23-22 v Clermont Auvergne (away), Won 59-17 v Biarritz Olympique (home), Lost 21-11 v Montpellier (away), Won 29-10 v Castres Olympique (home), Won 8-6 v Brive (away), Won 39-6 v Toulon (home), Lost 22-13 v Perpignan (away), Won 26-3 v Bordeaux-Bègles (home), Won 36-8 v Pau (home), Lost 25-20 v Stade Francais (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 20-13 v Glasgow Warriors (home), Match cancelled & result recorded as 0-0 draw v Bath (away); (Top 14 Championship): Won 25-3 v Lyon (home), Lost 31-30 v Castres Olympique (away); (Heineken Champions Cup): Won 39-21 v Bath (home), Won 38-30 v Glasgow Warriors (away); (Top 14 Championship): Lost 29-23 v Montpellier (home), Lost 27-24 v Biarritz Olympique (away), Won 31-27 v Clermont Auvergne (home), Won 22-16 v Pau (away), Won 41-15 v Brive (home), Lost 41-11 v Toulon (away), Won 19-0 v Racing 92 (home), Won 16-15 v Bordeaux-Bègles (away); (Heineken Champions Cup round of 16): Won 31-13 v Bordeaux-Bègles (away), Won 31-23 v Bordeaux-Bègles (home); (Top 14 Championship): Won 32-16 v Perpignan (home), Lost 23-16 v Toulouse (away); (Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final): Won 31-19 v Montpellier (home); (Heineken Champions Cup semi-final): Won 20-13 v Racing 92 (away); (Top 14 Championship): Won 32-13 v Stade Francais (home)

Top Scorers – 2021/22 Heineken Champions Cup: Leinster – Points: Jonathan Sexton 65; Tries: James Lowe 10; La Rochelle – Points: Ihaia West 67; Tries: Raymond Rhule 3

Previous European Meetings: 1

Sunday, May 2, 2021 – Semi-final – La Rochelle 32 Leinster 23, Stade Marcel Deflandre

Match Facts –

– Leinster would equal Toulouse’s record of five Heineken Champions Cup titles should they defeat La Rochelle in Marseille

– Leinster have won each of their seven matches in this season’s European Cup (excluding cancelled fixtures), including their two fixtures against French opposition

– The 40 points they scored against Toulouse in the semi-final was the second most by any team at that stage of the competition (Saracens, 46 points against Clermont Auvergne in 2013/14)

– La Rochelle will become the seventh team to feature in consecutive European Cup finals (also Brive, Leicester Tigers, Toulouse, Leinster, Toulon and Saracens)

– La Rochelle have won 11 of their 12 games in the Champions Cup since the start of last season (L1, excluding cancelled fixtures), with their only defeat in that spell coming in last season’s final (22-17 v Toulouse). They have scored 30+ points in five of their seven games so far this season

– Leinster boast the quickest average ruck speed of any side in this season’s Champions Cup (2.84 seconds). La Rochelle have recorded the best ruck success rate this season (97%) and have the fifth best ruck speed (3.28s)

– Leinster have averaged the most metres (931), line breaks (10) and passes (184) per game in the Champions Cup this season, while they also boast the best tackle success rate in the competition (91%). La Rochelle have recorded the third best tackle success rate (89%)

– La Rochelle have spent the highest percentage of time in opposition territory of any team in this season’s Champions Cup (56%), while Leinster have averaged the most 22 entries of any side (15.1) and recorded the most points per 22 entry (3.26)

– Leinster’s James Lowe is the top try scorer in this season’s Champions Cup (10) and needs just one more try to equal Chris Ashton’s record of 11 tries in a single campaign (2013/14)

– Lowe has also made more line breaks than any other player in the competition this season (12), while team-mate Jimmy O’Brien has made the second most (10)

– La Rochelle’s Grégory Alldritt has made the most carries of any player in the Champions Cup this season (113), while he ranks second for metres (731), defenders beaten (28), offloads (15) and turnovers won (8)

European Cup Records:

Leinster –
2020/21: Reached the semi-finals
2019/20: Reached the quarter-finals
2018/19: Runners-up
2017/18: Champions
2016/17: Reached the semi-finals
2015/16: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2014/15: Reached the semi-finals
2013/14: Reached the quarter-finals
2012/13: Failed to qualify from Pool 5
2011/12: Champions
2010/11: Champions
2009/10: Reached the semi-finals
2008/09: Champions
2007/08: Failed to qualify from Pool 6
2006/07: Reached the quarter-finals
2005/06: Reached the semi-finals
2004/05: Reached the quarter-finals
2003/04: Failed to qualify from Pool 3
2002/03: Reached the semi-finals
2001/02: Reached the quarter-finals
2000/01: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1999/00: Failed to qualify from Pool 1
1998/99: Failed to qualify from Pool A
1997/98: Failed to qualify from Pool A
1996/97: Failed to qualify from Pool B
1995/96: Reached the semi-finals

La Rochelle –
2020/21: Runners-up
2019/20: Failed to qualify from Pool 2
2017/18: Reached the quarter-finals