Leinster vs La Rochelle Champions Cup final preview
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Leinster vs La Rochelle Champions Cup final preview

THIS Saturday Leinster and La Rochelle face-off in a rematch for the Champions Cup.

Last year Leo Cullen's Leinster were bested by the Ronan O'Garas Top14 side 21-24 in Marsellie.

After losing out in last weeks URC semi-final against Munster, the Irish province will be gearing up to end the season on a high.

Here's a full preview of the game

LA ROCHELLE, FRANCE - MAY 02: Ronan O'Gara, Head Coach of La Rochelle (Photo by Lionel Hahn/Getty Images)

Where's it on?

Aviva Stadium

What time is it on?

4.45

What date is it on ?

Saturday, May 20

What TV Station is it on?

RTÉ 2, BT Sport 2

What time does coverage start?

16:00

Can I listen to it on the radio?

Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.

Referee

Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA); Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (Eng), Christophe Ridley (Eng); TMO: Tom Foley (Eng); Citing Commissioner: Beth Dickens (Sco)

How have both teams got here?

Leinster

Round 1: Racing 92 10 Leinster Rugby 42

Round 2: Leinster Rugby 57 Gloucester Rugby 0

Round 3: Gloucester Rugby 14 Leinster Rugby 49

Round 4: Leinster Rugby 36 Racing 92 10

Round of 16: Leinster Rugby 30 Ulster Rugby 15

Quarter-finals: Leinster Rugby 55 Leicester Tigers 24

Semi-finals: Leinster Rugby 41 Stade Toulousain 22

La Rochelle

Round 1: Stade Rochelais 46 Northampton Saints 12

Round 2: Ulster Rugby 29 Stade Rochelais 36

Round 3: Stade Rochelais 7 Ulster Rugby 3

Round 4: Northampton Saints 13 Stade Rochelais 31

Round of 16: Stade Rochelais 29 Gloucester Rugby 26

Quarter-final: Stade Rochelais 24 Saracens 10

Semi-final: Stade Rochelais 47 Exeter Chiefs 28

Can I still get tickets?

Try, here

What is the head-to-head like?

Both sides have played 2 times. La Rochelle have won both contests. This includes last years final defeat and the 2021 21-32 defeat in France

What happened the last time these sides met?

Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle picked up their first Heineken Champions Cup title in their history after final-minute try through Arthur Retiere at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille

Squads that day

Leinster: H Keenan; J O'Brien, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J Lowe; J Sexton (R Byrne, 63), J Gibson-Park (L McGrath, 76); A Porter (C Healy, 64), R Kelleher (D Sheehan, 14), T Furlong (M Ala'alatoa, 64), R Molony (J McCarthy, 77), J Ryan, C Doris (R Ruddock, 66), J Van der Flier, J Conan.

Sub not used: C Frawley.

La Rochelle: B Dulin; D Leyds (J Favre, 67), J Sinzelle, J Danty (L Botia, 68), R Rhule; I West, T Berjon (Retiere, 65); D Priso (R Wardi, 54), P Bourgarit (R Bosch, 66), U Atonio (J Sclavi, 62), T Lavault (R Sazy, 74), W Skelton, W Liebenberg (R Bourdeau, 60), M Haddad , G Alldritt

Who were the scorers that day?

La Rochelle:

Tries: Alldritt (65), Skelton (73)
Conversions: West (67,75)
Penalties: West (15,32,36,46,56)
Drop-Goals: West (18)

Leinster:

Tries: Furlong (8), Byrne (77)
Conversions: Byrne (9,78)
Penalties: Byrne (20,26,52)

What's the weather like for Saturday?

https://www.accuweather.com/en/ie/dublin/207931/daily-weather-forecast/207931?day=2

What are the teams?

Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Jimmy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Ross Molony, James Ryan (capt); Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Michael Ala’alatoa, Jason Jenkins, Ryan Baird, Luke McGrath, Ciarán Frawley, Charlie Ngatai.

La Rochelle: Brice Dulin; Dillyn Leyds, UJ Seuteni, Jonathan Danty, Raymond Rhule; Antoine Hastoy, Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Reda Wardi, Pierre Bourgarit, Uini Atonio; Romain Sazy, Will Skelton; Paul Boudehent, Levani Botia, Gregory Alldritt (capt).

Replacements: Quentin Lespiaucq Brettes, Joel Sclavi, Georges Henri Colombe, Thomas Lavault, Remi Bourdeau, Ultan Dillane, Thomas Berjon, Jules Favre.

What are the odds?

Odds can be found here

What have the coaches said?

Leo Cullen: “Hopefully it will be a great occasion. That’s what we have to look forward to now."

Ronan O'Gara: "We talk all the time about stifling or stopping Leinster. But stopping La Rochelle is also a subject. This perception is also important. Our last defeat (in the Champions Cup) was almost two years ago.

"It's important to get there and make it 50-50 to win the match."