Leinster head back to Bilbao on Saturday for the Champions Cup final against Bordeaux-Begles with an eye on finally clinching their fifth crown.
In 2018, the Irish province won the last of their four Champions Cup titles but have agonisingly lost four finals in the tournament since then, on their last visit to the Basque Country.
Their long line of heartbreaks over the past six years was encapsulated by last season’s semi-final defeat to Northampton, at home in front a bumper crowd at Croke Park.
“If you’d have asked us (at the start of the season), would we be happy if were about to face Bordeaux in the final of the Champions Cup, then we would have bitten your hand off,” assistant coach Robin McBryde told reporters on Tuesday.
“Credit to the players, they were able to move on (from last season’s heartbreak) and get something out of this season.
“A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then.”
As has been the case for more than a decade, the Dublin-based side is mainly made up of Ireland internationals.
But this season, New Zealand centre Rieko Ioane has added some additional Test quality to a squad mainly made up of graduates from the province’s efficient private school rugby system.
Ioane has scored three tries in his past five appearances having made a slow start to his seven-month deal in the Irish capital.
“He’s been playing really good rugby,” former Leinster and Ireland winger Luke Fitzgerald told the Irish Independent this week.
“He looks like he’s been grabbing big moments by the scruff of the neck.
“He’s a big game player. I don’t think he’ll be frightened of this occasion.”
– ‘Crucial’ Ryan –
Among the forwards, South Africa lock RG Snyman is out injured but Ireland second-row James Ryan has started all but one of their Champions Cup games this season.
Ryan produces important work at the breakdown in slowing down opposition ball, as do No.8 Caelan Dorris and hooker Dan Sheehan.
“Ryan’s rucking has been massive,” Fitzgerald said.
“He’s crucial for them.”
Leinster’s gameplan, which helped them to their four previous Champions Cup titles, remains very organised.
But an evolution came with South African Jacques Nienaber’s arrival in 2023.
Nienaber has sharpened their defence, having guided the Springboks to back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2019 and 2023, to differentiate the side’s style from the Ireland national team.
“In terms of the identity maybe it’s similar personnel but there’s also loads of differences,” centre Garry Ringrose said this week.
“There are things that the coaches demand of us and ask of us in here that differs slightly in Ireland and vice versa.
“As players we’re only ever trying to just deliver and do our job.”
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