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.
📥 | 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒!
Here is the #LeinsterRugby team to face @staderochelais in tomorrow's @ChampionsCup Final!#LEIvSR #FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/NH2br7th4D— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 19, 2023
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."
See More: Champions Cup, La Rochelle, Leinster, Rugby
