THE CHAMPIONS CUP still has its faults, but the competition has developed a handy habit of saving the best until last.
Leinster and La Rochelle served up two brilliant finals over the last two seasons and this year’s pairing of Leinster and Toulouse once again sees the competition’s two best teams face off in the decider.
It should make for a cracker at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 25 May, with fascinating battles all over the pitch.
For a start, the game will pit arguably the two best scrum-halves in the world against each other. Toulouse maestro Antoine Dupont has held that crown for the last number of years but Jamison Gibson-Park’s stunning form has pushed him into that conversation – with the scrum-half playing another starring role in Saturday’s semi-final defeat of Northampton Saints.
That game didn’t turn into the cakewalk which initially appeared to be unfolding at Croke Park but that in itself could prove to be a good thing. Leinster have so often steamrolled their way into European finals before falling short at the last hurdle. The nature of their second half lull against the Saints should sharpen minds and keep everyone on their toes ahead of Toulouse.
The French side will be coming from a similar place having gone 28 second-half minutes without a score in their semi-final defeat of Harlequins. Like Leinster a day previously, Toulouse did most of the damage in the first half – leading 31-12 at the break – playing some scintillating rugby across the opening 40 minutes.
When Toulouse are flying, it’s hard to see how anyone can live with them. Recent Champions Cup finals have proved hard to call but it was interesting to hear both Sam Warburton and Brian O’Driscoll name Ugo Mola’s men as their favourites during TNT Sports’ post-match coverage yesterday.
The French side have enjoyed a higher billing in recent years but have waltzed into the final without generating too much hype.
They’ve fallen short in this competition over the last few years but still know what it takes to win finals rugby – pipping La Rochelle in a thrilling Top 14 final last year.
When it comes to the European Cup their history is unmatched. No club has won the competition more times than the five-time champions [1996, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2021], but Leinster have an opportunity to equal that record when they meet in London, having only put their first star on the jersey in 2009.
“Toulouse are the standard bearers of the competition really,” said Leo Cullen.
“Going back to the start of the competition, they were the ones out of the blocks first in terms of professionalism and you could see the setup they had when the game went professional first.
They were light years ahead of us, let’s be honest. We sort of feel that we’ve been chasing them every since.”
As they prepare to play in their third Champions Cup final in as many years – and fifth in the last seven – Leinster are firmly on familiar ground.
The players have spoken about learning from their previous final experiences and they do feel like a different team this year, with Jacques Nienaber’s defensive system taking the spotlight previously held by their free-flowing attacking game.
Last season Leinster had 15 points to spare in their round of 16 win against Ulster, before beating Leicester Tigers by 31 points in the quarter-finals and Toulouse by 19 in the semis. A year previously, the margins of victory were 41 points [over two legs v Connacht in the round of 16], nine points [v Leicester, quarter-finals] and 23 points [v Toulouse, semi-finals].
Leinster have still notched up some big scorelines across the campaign but have also had to edge some tighter encounters. They took much encouragement from grinding out a win at La Rochelle in the Champions Cup pool stages before digging deep to claim an important late bonus-point away at Leicester. On Saturday they had to produce some big defensive plays to hold off Northampton’s second-half surge.
Those experiences might just stand to them. The all-action attacking rugby hasn’t been as prominent in their performances, but there’s been an added steeliness to some of their defensive play – even if Northampton let them off the hook with some poor execution at Croke Park.
Nienaber has been a huge addition, with his experience around the mentality needed to win finals rugby just as valuable as his expertise around the defensive side of the game.
It will be fascinating to see how they now approach the 25 May final.
While the starting XV has previously been rather predictable, this season Leinster have drifted toward a more ‘horses for courses’ approach. Will Connors was drafted in for his chop-tackling qualities in both games against La Rochelle but then didn’t even make the matchday 23 for Northampton.
There’s been rotation in the second row, too, where James Ryan’s absence has been felt. Leo Cullen backed the physicality of Jason Jenkins to start alongside Joe McCarthy against La Rochelle, before reverting to Ross Molony’s superior lineout skills for Northampton.
Garry Ringrose and Hugo Keenan were both pushing for inclusion last weekend and would be welcome returns for Toulouse.
The Northampton game also saw Leinster move back to a 5/3 bench split, having gone for the punch of a 6/2 split against Ronan O’Gara’s men. There’s plenty of power in this Toulouse team so 6/2 might be the favoured option for London.
Toulouse have the athletes to seriously test Leinster’s power game and the runners to stretch their defence – the province looked short on backline speed when Northampton started to find space in the Croke Park backfield.
Before that, Leinster will take in URC games against the Ospreys and Ulster. Having sent a shadow squad to South Africa for the two URC fixtures leading into Northampton, Cullen says they will take a difference approach as part of their preparations for London.
With Leinster falling to second in the URC table after back-to-back losses in South Africa, the next two weekends will be used to keep some key players sharp and notch up wins as Cullen’s men chase a URC-Champions Cup double.
“We need to concentrate on the URC now for the next couple of weeks, so we’ll be picking strong teams” Cullen said.
“For us, we just need to focus on ourselves and how we improve over the next few weeks.
“There’s lots of areas we can improve upon so making sure the players have the right mentality in who they attack training and go after improvements and hopefully that will lead to a positive performances.
“But it’s a final. It’s on the day. So it’s making sure that we are the best versions of ourselves.”
The countdown is on.
Great player, did very little wrong this year.
An absolute gentleman , hed walk onto the dubs starting team.
Great to see such an honest insight. Firstly in regard to Dublin and Mayo’s desire to win at all costs and his honesty about what happened Kerry so soon after losing to mayo. Kerry only blame themselves when they are found wanting. Same in 2011. No blame to Billy John Keane or cluxton eating up the clock. The attitude was they should have had us beaten out the gate before Kev mcs goal
@Bill Clay: well they kinda have to be honest because the cat is out of the bag. Kerry having the highest number of black cards received of the top teams shows the cynicism that is there.
It’s sad all the same.
@Peter McGlynn: can you back that stat Peter regarding black cards? I suspect not.
@Peter McGlynn:
It’s very sad Peter altogether. Only four minor All Ireland’s in four years. Awful sad.
@Peter McGlynn: Whats even sadder is the state of Donegal football.
@NeilGoochFerriter: here you are boy
http://m.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/25-in-four-years-kerry-are-the-market-leaders-when-it-comes-to-league-black-cards-35634272.html
@Bill Clay: who is billy john Keane you stupid preck
P Geaney is about the only kerry player that would make the Dublin squad at the moment.
@John Carroll: I’d say a few of them would make the squad in fairness but he’s about the only one who’d start.
@Conor O’Riordan: O Donoghue, Donaghy and David Moran would be close to. Kerry aren’t far away and are always capable of beating any team.
Kerry will win an all Ireland in the next 3 years… and I’m a dubs fan!
@Sean O Draighneain: donaghy? Really
@Ollie Watson: I think so. He’s a better version of o gara and a big game player. hate seeing him on the Kerry team when they play Dublin.
@Sean O Draighneain: Paul Murphy would get into the squad too in my opinion. The most underrated player in the country. And I hope you’re right!
@John Carroll:
Star would walk on.
@Ollie Watson:
Without question. Lion led by donkeys.
@Con Murphy:Dont think so Ted !!!
Interesting article perhaps the gaa will run this for their next ad campaign waxing lyrical about the values and principles of this great organisation.
It’s a pity this attitude to sport is gaining popularity .
Rules are there to ensure fair play so that the team which wins does so because they are the best at the sport.
If your going to play that way ..fine ..but spare me the hypocrisy of claiming to be a noble sports hero .. if that’s sport put it in your next ad ..let the kids see what their hero’s are prepared to do to win..I think it’s wrong and diminishes the game and the winning.
A truly great Dublin team is on the cusp of true greatness – 4 in a row. Mayo have had more chances than most teams could dream of, unfortunately, they haven’t got what it takes.
Paul, the Kerry brains trust must prevent this calamity and rise from the ashes. Only one team can stop then now.
@Etherman:
Little chance with current management. Another wasted year ahead unfortunately.
Paul like the rest of Kerry are hoping to bring this Dublin run to an end. When Kerry beat Dublin in this years league final most of the pundits said it was a dress rehearsal for this years All Ireland how wrong they were. In this decade so far Dublin have beaten Kerry four times in the All Ireland,two finals and two semifinals, not even the great Kerry team of the 70′s managed to beat Dublin four times in that decade and they had the opportunity to do so had they won in 76 or 77. I hope Dublin go on and win four in a row and go down as one of the greatest teams to play the game if they are not already there.
Lets all hope Mayo finally win it next year or someone like kildare ,Galway, Roscommon, Monaghan, or Cavan maybe could manage to step up instead of Paul and and his feel sorry for me and kerry story, with their thirthy seven All-Irelands.Surely its the very last thing Football needs right now is another domination story begining in twenthy eighteen,you wont get much sympathy for that Paul.
@John Carroll: You need a woman John
@John Carroll:
There’s no feel sorry for me from Paul you would need to read what he wrote again.
Its not the Kerry way which has resulted in a record number of all Irelands. I was glad Dublin won against Mayo as I am sick of all the hard done by nonsense from Mayo. If you want to win it go out and do it. Paul isn’t looking for the sympathy that Mayo seem to thrive on and still win nothing. Mayo have turned losing all Irelands into an art form which is no good for their supporters. Best losers in Ireland, sad.
@Con Murphy: doesn’t say much for Kerry con. They were miles behind Mayo this year – in truth they could have lost by 12 points and there’s only about 3 Kerry players who’d make the Mayo team currently.
@Con Murphy :”Not the Kerry way” ah will you get off thd dung heap you clown.
@Summer bay Devil:Ask your sister :-):-)
Great article
Very honest alright but I would worry about sportsmanship in the game today. There is too much off the ball stuff going on. A second referee would need to be on the pitch to try and stop this. Linesmen and umpires have no authority to do anything about this, and it is becoming a blight on the game.
Kill or be killed what a statement to use in any sport
@Alan Scott: At this level it is all about winning and that won’t change. You would worry about sportsmanship in the game though. I would also be worried about young kids and underage players adopting this attitude which would not be good for them or our overall society.But at senior level this is the reality and it will not change. GAA today is such a part of Irish life that so much of a players life depends on how he and his team perform at the highest level. Their jobs and careers are intimitly bound up with their sporting success or lack of it.
For a top player like a Kieran Donoghy or Colm Cooper, both from not very well off backgrounds sport, and the GAA in particular, provides hope that they can reach fame and a little bit of fortune in a society where otherwise they would not have a lot of advantages and where people look down on people from their backgrounds. Sport is one of the few ways in which a guy from an ordinary background can make a name for himself in a society which is dominated by who you know and where you went to school or who your daddy knows.
As a Dublin fan the 2011 final was the best . Primarily because Kerry threw it at us . Kerry lost it , we didn’t win it . Kerry have always been the standard by which you measured yourself . It’s lovely to see them with their confidence shot but it won’t last .
Mayo are the arsenal of Gaelic football, afraid of winning and loving a good moan
Mayo bet Kerry by 6 points this year but it could have been a lot more. They totally dominated them.