The ultimate face-off in European rugby is set to take place between Toulouse and Leinster, the two most victorious teams in the sport’s history. With a record five Champions Cup victories, Toulouse squares off against Leinster, which lags by one victory, owning four titles. The much-anticipated match is slated for Saturday at 2.45pm at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the fairly recent football venue accommodating 63,000 spectators.
The event will be aired by RTÉ, taking into account the keen interest from Ireland, along with the regular broadcaster, TNT Sports. A simultaneous transmission on RTÉ radio is also in the pipeline.
Regarding the teams, precise squad announcements are expected on Friday. Notwithstanding, it is known that Leinster’s Hugo Keenan, James Ryan and Will Connors, having overcome their injuries during the past week’s loss against Ulster, have made it back on the team. Uncertainty remains around Garry Ringrose due to a persistent shoulder injury and consequently lack of game readiness. It will not be surprising if Ringrose misses the game, given the performance of Jamie Osborne in Leinster’s midfield during his absence.
Tommy O’Brien and Charlie Ngatai’s participation hangs in the balance pending further health evaluation this week, but even if they play, it might only be in a substitute capacity. Leo Cullen, given the overall good health of the Leinster team, has an important selection decision to make for the wing and second-row positions. Ross Molony, who started the semi-final win against Northampton, may face stiff competition for his spot due to James Ryan’s comeback and the inclusion of Joe McCarthy and Jason Jenkins.
In the last three, Hugo Keenan and James Lowe are almost certain to make the starting lineup. However, a choice must be made between Jimmy O’Brien, having recently returned to fitness, and Jordan Larmour for the number 14 jersey.
Good news for Toulouse as Santiago Chocobares re-joins the team following the expiration of his suspension for a dangerous tackle against Harlequins in the semi-final. His availability is crucial for the French side.
Leinster convincingly claimed victories in all their group matches, including a particularly prominent win against La Rochelle, positioning them for a series of home fixtures in the knockout rounds. In the round of 16, Leicester was defeated at the Aviva Stadium, before they gave a sterling performance to finally outclass La Rochelle in the quarter-final knockout. Their semi-final encounter against Northampton at Croke Park was tinged with anxiety due to a last-minute rally from the English representatives, yet they held their nerve to secure their place in their third consecutive European final.
On the other hand, Toulouse demonstrated their dominance in the group stages by securing wins against Cardiff, Harlequins, Bath and Ulster, setting up a string of home matches during the knockout phase. They breezed past Racing 92 and Exeter, racking up a whopping 95 points in these two games alone, and then outperformed ‘Quins in the semi-finals.
Previously, Toulouse had celebrated their latest victory in this competition in 2021, defeating La Rochelle in another final held in London, at Twickenham. On the contrary, Leinster’s last taste of glory was in 2018 when they vanquished Racing in Bilbao. The Irish side has flirted with the ultimate prize more recently, having participated in the finals in Marseille in 2022 and Dublin the following year. However, they were bested by La Rochelle in both instances.