Leinster-La Rochelle in the final act II, what has changed for the giants of Europe

Between La Rochelle and Leinster, this is the story of a rivalry that has lasted for three years now, but which always turns in the same direction. At the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday May 20 (5:45 p.m.), the two teams will face off for the third consecutive edition of the Champions Cup, the second in a row in the final (a semi-final in 2021), in front of a fully acquired audience. to the Irish cause. If the maritime supporters will repeat the adage, “never two without three”, the Irish fans will necessarily want to break the Indian sign against a team which has definitely changed in size this season.

Like last year, Leinster will not be crowned champions in their league, the United Rugby Championship. Eliminated by their rivals from Munster, Leo Cullen’s men must win on Saturday if they do not want to finish a second consecutive season without any trophy. Faced with Ronan O’Gara, his counterpart and former team-mate in the selection, the coach of the Irish province will also want to take his revenge, he who has never lost a European Cup final as a player with Leinster ( he lost one with Leicester), but already two as a coach.

For that, he will have to rely on a positive dynamic in the European Cup, nothing but victories this year, and on the fact of having lost only three meetings since the final of last year. If La Rochelle started their season more timidly in the league, losing points at home, the Maritimes never seemed inhibited in the Champions Cup, also winning all their matches in the competition. By dismissing Toulouse (41-22) and Exeter (47-28) respectively, the last two winners before last year, Leinster and La Rochelle showed that they were above the fray during the big matches and against the big teams of the competition.

Collective experience and some well-regarded alterations

In the arrivals department, La Rochelle was able to strengthen itself where it needed it. Best director of the competition (85 points), Antoine Hastoy came to magnify an already operational offensive sector. Decisive and capable of strokes of genius, the Samoan center Ulupano Seuteni added an unpredictable side. These two rookies are the two major changes to the three-quarter line from the Marseille final. Injured last year, Tawera Kerr-Barlow regained his place in the starting XV at the expense of Thomas Berjon.

On the Irish side, we are more focused on continuity. The roster for Saturday’s final will be nearly identical to last year. Arrived from Lou, Charlie Ngatai may have integrated perfectly, he will take his place on the bench. The pack remains unchanged, a fairly remarkable performance, with the exception of hookers Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher who swap places, the second city being on the bench this year. Behind, in the absence of Johnny Sexton, it is Ross Byrne who will start as opener.

Alldritt, van der Flier, duel at the top

Already dazzling last year, Grégory Alldritt and Josh van der Flier have not really deviated from their good habits this season. The duel between the two engines in their pack will still take place, but some things have changed. Alldritt and the French team lost their title at the 6 Nations Tournament, in favor of van der Flier and the Irish. When they clashed in selection, the power released by the Leinster player compared to the half-hearted performance of the Gersois suggested that the arm was already beginning to lean to one side.

But despite the sequence of meetings, Alldritt had not said his last word. A month after the failure against the XV of Clover, the latter largely contributed to the historic success of the Blues against England at Twickenham, before resuming his usual demolition business on the pitch. It remains to be seen whether he will regain the upper hand over one of his rivals at the top of world rugby.