Robbie Henshaw will be at at first-centre, Tommy O’Brien on the right and Rieko Ioane on the left-wing for Leinster for the Champions Cup final in Bordeaux. It’s been nothing but good news on the training ground for Leo Cullen who been able to select his first-choice back-line for the big occasion. The same applies to a first-choice forward line although that comes with the fact that RG Snyman and Ryan Baird are long-term injured. Joe McCarthy starts with James Ryan in the second-row with
Diarmuid Mangan added to the bench; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris comprise the back-row with Max Deegan as their cover. Paddy McCarthy returns to the bench for his first appearance since the win over La Rochelle in January. All happy in the Leinster corner as they return to the scene of their last Champions Cup triumph , against Racing, in 2018. “Yeah, very good memories, and of this room as well,” said Leo Cullen at the team announcement in the San
Mames Stadium, Bilbao. “I think it was Isa (Nacewa) and Johnny (Sexton) were up here the last time, weren’t they? So, yeah, it was a great day for us in 2018 but that’s in the past now. it’s a totally different challenge now and a different group. “Everyone has worked incredibly hard to get to this stage, it’s amazing to be here, a beautiful stadium and obviously steeped in a lot of tradition which we understand. Massive challenge for us, isn’t it? Bordeaux are a
quality team “We know it’s going to be a serious challenge but it’s what we want, isn’t it, to be at this stage. It’s trying to embrace the condition and make sure we deliver our best performance because that’s what it will take. “Obviously very different to back home but we have all played in conditions like this with humidity and temperatures right up there. A few of us were talking about how the Romania game in the World Cup was something similar and maybe
a bit higher. “You just get on with it. Obviously the medical and nutrition team will manage things. Just break it down to smaller pieces in your mind rather than one big thing you’re attacking. Moment by moment.” “I don’t think it changes anything particularly with the conditions, we want to be competitive in the scrum area. “It can give teams a lot of access these days, you can see the way rugby has gone so of course it’s an area we’ve been focusing on
the last few weeks and all season. “I don’t think anything changes because of the conditions or who we’re playing, it’s just we have to trust in ourselves and what we’ve built all season. “Obviously, it hasn’t been perfect, but we’re in a good spot now, there’s a good vibe in the team and hopefully we can put a good performance out on the pitch.” Leinster: 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Tommy O’Brien, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. Rieko Ioane, 10. Harry Byrne, 9.
Jamison Gibson-Park, 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Tom Clarkson, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Jack Conan, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris (c) Replacements: 16. Ronan Kelleher, 17. Paddy McCarthy, 18. Tadhg Furlong, 19. Diarmuid Mangan, 20. Max Deegan, 21. Luke McGrath, 22. Ciaran Frawley, 23. Jamie Osborne Bordeaux Bègles: 15. Salesi Rayasi, 14. Pablo Uberti, 13. Damian Penaud, 12. Yoram Moefana, 11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10. Matthieu Jalibert, 9. Maxime Lucu (c), 1. Jefferson Poirot, 2. Maxime Lamothe, 3.
Carlü Sadie, 4. Boris Palu, 5. Adam Coleman, 6. Pierre Bochaton, 7. Cameron Woki, 8. Marko Gazzotti Replacements: 16. Gaetan Barlot, 17. Ugo Boniface, 18. Ben Tameifuna, 19. Lachie Swinton, 20. Temo Matiu, 21. Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 22. Arthur Retiere, 23. Hugo Reus Click here to sign up to our sport newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from Ireland and beyond
Leinster, Bordeaux, Champions Cup final, Leo Cullen, Robbie Henshaw, Tommy O'Brien, Rieko Ioane, fitness tests, James Ryan, Joe McCarthy, Caelan Doris