Ireland ended their campaign with a 40-21 loss in Eden Park in Auckland against New Zealand who extended their unbeaten record in Eden Park that goes back to 1994. Ireland will know they were second best today and left a few chances slip but also ball handling and tackling let them down when you need to be almost perfect to stand any hope of turning New Zealand over on home soil.

Andy Farrell had talked up Ireland chances this week in the build-up and was “excited” to see could Ireland turn New Zealand over in Auckland.

In truth, this Ireland performance never got off the ground and while some refereeing calls will be questioned New Zealand were well in control of this game and were well worth there win.

Ireland struggled to get any meaningful go forward ball and Nic Berry was very strong and clear in how he refereed the breakdown by talking both sides through nearly every breakdown. Ireland did not seem to read the memo and were continually pinged or “not rolling away” or “pinning the man in”.  

Ireland were guilty of handing back control to New Zealand in particular just before the break where Ireland come back into the game having being 14-0 down to make it 14-7 and instead of setting up to clear their lines, Stuart Mc Closkey decided to play from his own line except nobody read the script and Ireland were back behind their own line when Will Jordan seized the loose ball and dived over to score try number 51 in an All Black shirt.

Ireland then conceded another score 2 minutes from the whistle and your now 28-7 down rather than 14-7 going in at the half. Those two scores kept New Zealand at arm’s length and allowed them to take the foot off the accelerator in the second half.  

This showing was very familiar to those of us who grew up in the 90s and early 2000s when brave showings and wilting were the norm. Ireland have found a way to win over the first 2 weeks but today the failings and issues that dogged Ireland against both Australia and Japan were ruthlessly exposed.

Andy Farrell is locked in until 2031 but his assistants tellingly have not as of yet signed extensions, It might be time for a refreshing in the coaches box although the timing will be tricky as the World Cup is in late 2027 and most coaching teams will be ramping up there preparations for late 2027 in Australia.

Andrew Goodman has struggled to get his message across since taking on the backs coaching job from Mike Catt and although they did win 4 from 5 in this year’s 6 Nations and injuries have reduced options in the backs and he will know he will need to get which ever backs are selected firing with fluency.

The end could be nigh for men like Bundee Aki, guys like Jude Postlewaite, Dan Kelly are waiting there chance and yes there club seasons didn’t end well, it’s time these men were thrown in and see how they go.

As I mentioned before this Nations Championship began, a number of men were fortunate to get into the squad. It seemed some selections were purely based on work done rather than current form. I am afraid it might be time that Andy Farrell goes back now and reflects on the past 3 weeks coupled with the 6 Nations campaign and assess his options as we head into the new season which begins in late September.

Several of this squad will get a well-deserved break and rest. For a number of the guys involved this season is almost 12 months old. I am not suggesting that had any impact on this morning’s display. New blood is a must in the Irish set up to freshen things up.

There is plenty to digest after the international season and plenty to work on heading into next season. Certain aspects of today’s game worked but only marginally better than the previous 2 weeks.

Injuries did rule out a number of big players like Mack Hansen, Jack Crowley, Tommy O Brien, Calvin Nash, Ryan Baird, Jack Boyle and Andrew Porter to name a few ruled out through injury. In another way, those injuries meant that other players were put to head of the queue and had to step and be counted.

The past 3 weeks have shown me that while Andy Farrell has been handed the keys until 2031 plenty of work will be needed to get Ireland back and truly firing before the 2^nd leg of the Nations Championship in November where Ireland will face Argentina, Fiji and South Africa.

If I was asked for an overall statement on the international year, I would say plenty of work to be done, high points beating Scotland and England in the 6 Nations in dramatic fashion to end the 6 Nations on a high note.

For the players and coaches the break will be welcome and they will know that they have a lot of work to do when they next come into camp to build up to leg 2 of the Nations Championship.

Let’s see what season 26/27 will bring but for now I’ll enjoy a few weeks where I won’t be seeing oval balls in my sleep…..

Ireland face New Zealand next Saturday in Eden Park in Auckland. They faced them there in 2022 in the first game of that summer tour.

Eden Park is a fortress as New Zealand haven’t lost there since 1994 although that particular stat comes with a caveat as New Zealand do not play all their home games in Auckland and while it’s impressive to see it and say it, but one day they will be defeated and Ireland will hope they can be the ones to do it having won a test series in 2022 in New Zealand.

Ireland have beaten both Australia and Japan in the past 2 weeks and will be hoping to put in their best showing on New Zealand soil to end the 2025/2026 season on the ultimate high note.

Given the performances of the recent weeks where the Irish set piece has not covered itself in glory in particular the line out has faltered again, men like Paul O Connell, John Fogarty will earn their money trying to solve the issues that have dogged this campaign as well as the 6 Nations earlier in the year.

Ireland manged to get the wins against Australia and Japan while the set piece didn’t function and while that was good enough on those days you can be certain New Zealand will zone in on those issues and go after the line out and scrum to really try and drive home any weakness that may feel is there to be exploited.

Will Jordan will be in the New Zealand back 3 fresh from surpassing Doug Howlett’s try scoring record of 49 tries that stood for many years. He now has 50 tries in 56 caps.

While many All Blacks have tried Jordan has gone and done it while Beaudan Barrett is on 45 tries and can continue his own quest in trying to go beyond Will Jordan an interesting small sub plot over the next while as they face Ireland and then face South Africa on another tour in place of the Rugby Championship.

Ireland know they have a shot at doing the unthinkable by defeating New Zealand in Auckland and while many will think it will be another New Zealand win you can be certain Andy Farrell will not be saying that to his squad.

The performances of the last 2 weeks make that win highly unlikely but I said something like that in 2022 and look how that Tour ended !! It will take an almighty effort as has already been spoken of. It’s a last game of a very long season and history awaits if they can summon up one final big showing before a well-earned rest.

Here is the 23 I would select to face New Zealand on Saturday  at 8.10am…

15 Hugo Keenan

14 Robert Balcounne

13 Garry Ringrose

12 Stuart Mc Closkey

11 Jamie Osbourne

10 Sam Prendergast

9 Jamison Gibson Park

8 Sean Jansen

7 Nick Timoney

6 Jack Conan

5 Tadgh Beirne

4 Joe Mc Carthy

3 Tadgh Furlong

2 Dan Sheehan

1 Tom O Toole

–

16 Ronan Kelleher

17 Billy Bohan

18 Thomas Clarkson

19 James Ryan

20 Josh Van Der Flier

21 Nathan Doak

22 Ciaran Frawley

23 Jacob Stockdale

After the tight victory over Australia, Ireland will now face Japan in Newcastle after Japan’s defeat at the hands of Italy.  Andy Farrell will make changes to his 23 for this week’s game and will change his starting team up by bringing in a number of players who were on the bench or not involved against Australia to face Japan.

Concussion will rule Jeremy Loughman out of contention and that will allow Billy Bohan come into the 23 either starting or from the bench. It will also be interesting to see who Farrell may ask to back up last Saturday’s game from the bench.

Here is the 23 I would select to face Japan on Saturday at 11am :

15 Jamie Osbourne

14 Robert Baloucounne

13 Bundee Aki

12 Robbie Henshaw

11 Jacob Stockdale

10 Ciaran Frawley

9 Nathan Doak

8 Sean Jansen

7 Nick Timoney

6 Cian Predergast

5 Darragh Murray

4 Cormac Izuchukwu

3 Sam Illo

2 Ronan Kelleher

1 Billy Bohan

–

16 Tom Stewart

17 Tom O Toole

18 Thomas Clarkson

19 James Ryan

20 Jack Conan

21 Craig Casey

22 Harry Byrne

23 Jimmy O Brien

Ireland begin there Nations Championship tomorrow with a game vs Australia in Sydney before facing Japan also in Australia before heading to New Zealand to face New Zealand in Eden Park. Andy Farrell has named his 23 with Sam Prendergast returning to the 10 shirt with Ciaran Frawley waiting in the wings for his opportunity.

Stuart Mc Closkey comes back in the centre to partner Garry Ringrose while Jamie Osbourne fills the left wing slot left vacant by the departure of James Lowe who has moved to Japan after 9 years with Leinster and the past 6 in the green of Ireland winning 45 caps.

Ireland have a good chance at winning at least 2 of the 3 games over the next few weeks, Australia will see a chance at lowering the flag of Ireland in the opening game of the recently created Nations Championship. Andy Farrell has gone with the tried and trusted and only injury ruled a few players out another few of his go to men would be involved.

By the selection for tomorrow a clear picture can be seen as to who will see game time to play Japan before they go to try and do something that hasn’t been done since 1994 and that is defeat New Zealand in Eden Park, France are the last team to do that on a summer tour back then.

On one hand, I can understand why Farrell has gone down the tried and trusted route and no one wants to return to the summer tour hammering of 2012 when New Zealand battered a tiring Ireland by 60-0. These 3 games are well placed with Japan sandwiched in the middle.

Australia have their own agenda and will see this as a shot at starting the next few weeks on the right footing as the Australian Super Rugby sides did not have the best year in Super Rugby as a whole.

The side selected by Joe Schmidt see the likes of Ryan Lonergan and Carter Gordon at half back with Carter Gordan back in Union after a spell in the NRL after the 2023 World Cup and looking to nail down a squad spot into the future.

With Les Kiss due to step into the Aussie coaching hot seat after this campaign, several players will be looking to start on the right foot and a win over Ireland would begin the summer on the right note.

Ireland have gone with experience over any new caps or many fresh faces and in the short term that is ok but the long term view will be that the age profile of the Irish squad is beginning to become an issue even if Farrell and company may not see it that way with one eye on the RWC in late 2027 and while the RWC can’t be the whole reason for giving some new boys an opportunity, a few men can just be classed as simply unlucky not to be in the squad.

Australia will sense a chance at starting their summer programme on the right foot with no Rugby Championship to book end the summer as New Zealand and South Africa have their own private party with Australia and Argentina looking on from the outside and that won’t help either team and will only cause ill feeling again no matter what may be said in public.

The New Zealand tour of South Africa is a novel idea and harks back to tours of old times, in the modern era to leave a Rugby Championship campaign on ice just to benefit New Zealand and South Africa doesn’t sit well and you can sure that the people that matter have made their feelings clear about the whole situation.

Back to Ireland, they won a series in Australia back in 2018 that saw Tadgh Beirne debut after his confirmed move back to Munster after a few seasons with Scarlets. He will be on the bench this weekend with James Ryan and Joe Mc Carthy in the engine room for the game in Sydney.

It’s the beginning of a new Championship with a shiny trophy to be claimed next November up here, 12 of the best sides will face off against each other and while Rugby Union will really have to fight for column inches due to the World Cup on the global stage, here in Ireland the All Ireland series in both hurling and football is at the semi-final stage.

The only benefit for rugby is that the games are early in the day over the next 3 weeks with an 11am kick off tomorrow, the same kick off slot next weekend and an 8am kick off when they face New Zealand on July 18^th.

It has been a long season for some of Ireland’s best players but they will have to focus the mind for one final push before a well-earned and deserved summer break will be upon them but before then though they face Australia, Japan and New Zealand and that will occupy the minds of supporters, players and management…

Leinster are on the lookout for a new coach to take on the role following Leo Cullen’s decision to step away at the end of next season after 12 years in charge. It will be an interesting appointment given the length of time that Leo Cullen has been at the helm of the Leinster ship.

A number of names have been instantly linked with the job, names like Ronan O Gara, Scott Robertson, Jono Gibbes who is the Chiefs coach in New Zealand at the moment and was Leinster forwards coach under Joe Schmidt. The timing of the announcement gives Leinster and the IRFU time to look at their potential targets and sound some of them out.

Already the notion of Ronan O Gara as Leinster head coach has been dismissed by a number of people owing to his time as a Munster player and the rivalry that was there in his time.

Personally while it wouldn’t go down well with the Munster support, the Leinster job is much sought after and will give their chosen candidate the chance to work with a well drilled squad that has won multiple League titles and while they haven’t won the big prize in Europe since 2018, they have made multiple final appearances and will be back competing next season.

Ronan O Gara might not be the choice of several people for various reasons but his coaching CV is what you need to look at and forget his allegiances from his playing days. He cut his coaching teeth in France and New Zealand and has achieved much success with Racing 92, Crusaders and more recently with La Rochelle.

He has yet to speak about any possible move and is keeping his powder dry which is great to see in the modern world of instant news and quotes etc… Of course his head coach in New Zealand was Scott Robertson who he worked alongside and after he left his position as New Zealand coach and was replaced by Dave Rennie for an 18 month period until the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup which is in Australia.

Scott Robertson’s coaching stock has risen and fallen after his spell in charge of New Zealand but his time in club rugby brought success to Crusaders. He also coached the New Zealand under 20 side for a spell.

Whoever Leinster look to bring in, they will inherit a good strong squad with a sprinkling of young talent that will be itching to impress next season looking ahead to the arrival of a new coach in the summer of 2027.

It will be interesting to see what way Leinster go as they look to appoint a new coach. They will have several interested parties in the position but will take their time and have the whole of next season to bring some one on board !!!

Leo Cullen has achieved plenty while in charge of Leinster and will hope he can end his time with two more trophies in the cabinet by the end of next season…..

Ireland depart for the Southern Hemisphere today where they will face Australia, Japan and New Zealand in the Nations Championship over 3 weekend’s in July. They face Australia first up then Japan also in Australia before heading for Eden Park to play New Zealand.

Only a small number of uncapped players have made the cut for which Andy Farrell will have to be questioned . A number of players are simply unlucky not to make the squad but while they are on holiday you can be certain they will be told to keep the phone on and will be on standby if they are needed over those weekend’s.

It is another attempt by World Rugby to revitalise the summer tour window by setting up this competition that will be played in July and then completed next November up here. The 12 best sides will face off through the July window.

As I say, only a small number of new players will get the chance to wear a green shirt this summer over the games with Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

It is also the chance for Andy Farrell to start his spell armed with a long term deal with the IRFU and with the news of Leo Cullen’s departure from Leinster at the end of next season, he will have to begin a new working relationship with a new coaching ticket in Leinster. They move back to the Laya Arena from the start of next season.

Here is my 23 to play Australia in the game on July 4^th. I am using the squad selected by Andy Farrell.

15 Hugo Keenan

14 Rob Balcounne

13 Jamie Osbourne

12 Stuart Mc Closkey

11 Jimmy O Brien

10 Ciaran Frawley

9 Nathan Doak

8 Sean Jansen

7 Nick Timoney

6 Cian Predergast

5 Darragh Murray

4 Cormac Izuchukwu

3 Thomas Clarkson

2 Ronan Kelleher

1 Billy Bohan

–

16 Tom Stewart

17 Jeremy Loughman

18 Sam Illo

19 Joe Mc Carthy

20 Jack Conan

21 Craig Casey

22 Harry Byrne

23 Zac Ward

My Ireland Squad to play in the Nations Championship in July against Australia, New Zealand and Japan…

Prop : Billy Bohan, Michael Milne, Jeremy Loughman LH

Tadgh Furlong, Thomas Clarkson, Tom O Toole – TH

Ronan Kelleher, Dan Sheehan, Tom Stewart- Hooker

Tom Ahern, Darragh Murray, James Ryan, Joe Mc Carthy, Cormac Izuchkwu – SR

Tadgh Beirne, Jack Conan, Cian Prendergast, Dave Mc Cann, Josh Van Der Flier, John Hodnett, Nick Timoney, Brian Gleeson, Caelan Doris, Sean Jansen – no 8/BR

Backs : Nathan Doak, Craig Casey, Jamison Gibson Park – SH

Jack Murphy, Ciaran Frawley, Jack Crowley – FH

Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose, Dan Kelly, James Hume, Jude Postlewaite, Hugh Gavin – Centre

Jimmy O Brien, Tommy O Brien, JJ Kenny, Zac Ward, Robert Balcounne – Wing

Hugo Keenan, Mike Lowry, Jamie Osbourne – FB

I am aware a few of these players could be ruled out through injury but this is the squad I would select to face Australia and Japan in Australia before taking New Zealand on in Eden Park in Auckland.

Andy Farrell has signed a fresh deal with the IRFU until 2031 and that will see him take charge of the Irish team until the World Cup in the USA. The length of this deal is unpreceded in terms of length as the IRFU would normally only hand out a 4 year deals between Word Cup’s.

Under his leadership a Championship and Grand Slam has been won in 2023 and 2024 respectively. He has been with the IRFU since 2016 when he came in under Joe Schmidt as defence coach having worked alongside Stuart Lancaster with England until late 2015.

Andy Farrell has plainly stated he has happy here and the family love living her so there was no hesitation in giving him fresh terms. It also stops any long term question around his future as both England and Saracens were touted as possible destinations after the World Cup next year.

This move also opens the door to Farrell leading the British and Irish Lions when they tour New Zealand in 2029, that is still a bit away and Farrell has a Nations Championship over July and next November to deal with and the 2027 Six Nations before the RWC in Australia.

The doubts over James Lowe’s future continue to grow but maybe now that Andy Farrell’s fate has been decided, it might sway any late decisions by Lowe and his advisors as to what may be next for the 45 times capped Irish international.

There is still plenty of work to be done by Ireland and now Farrell has the time and scope to implement any changes he may see fit to make over the next few years. The Irish squad will continue to undergo change in the next while and certain players may see this contract extension as a chance to put themselves in the shop window while others will know they need to try and wipe the slate clean and start fresh under Farrell’s watchful eye.

The length of contract is interesting as the IRFU model in times past was 4 year deals between World Cup’s and then re access just before or just after each World Cup of course that has worked to varying degrees in the past.

Andy Farrell has been with the IRFU for 10 years now as an assistant and since 2020 as the head coach. His trophy cabinet shows 3 Championships with Ireland in 2018 a Grand Slam as an assistant, in 2023, another Grand Slam as Head Coach and in 2024 a Championship win. The record at RWC’s needs work as Ireland are still waiting to win a knock out game which in my humble opinion is embarrassing in particular since 1999.

There is certainly a feel good factor attached to this particular contract extension and there is plenty of good will towards Mr Farrell although after the loss in Paris back in February one might have felt that this relationship might draw to a close but they managed to get things going again and defeat England by a record margin in Twickenham and that seemed to give him breathing space which has led to this new deal.

He has been given the vote of confidence where other Irish coaches could only dream of being given such a long term deal in times past but I suppose a Grand Slam and Championship win will give you that room for manoeuvre and also the fact that the family are happy here which is another key element which is sometimes lost in the rough and tumble of the world of professional sport.

The Nations Championship is first on the agenda in July where Ireland face Australia, New Zealand and Japan on consecutive weekends. That squad will be named in the next period of time and a number of new players will be hoping to get on the plane to play some part in any of those 3 games.

Andy Farrell has been giving the backing of those in the IRFU for the long term and now it is over to him, his coaches and players to begin the journey that has been given renewed hope and value….

 Union Bordeuax Begles are your 2026 Champions Cup winners after beating Leinter 41-19 in yesterday’s Final in Bilbao. Leinster did start brightly scoring through Tommy O Brien and Harry Byrne converted but unfortunately from a Leinster point of view that is as good as it got barring a few late scores to gloss over the cracks and improve the scoreline.

Bordeaux flexed their muscles yesterday and put the defending URC champions to the sword. It is a 6^th French winner over the past 6 years and that should really have all in the much vaunted Gallagher Prem and URC scratching their heads as to how the Champions Cup may end up back in the cabinet of one of their sides over the next couple of years.

The Top 14 has gotten a vice like grip on the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup as Ulster’s challenge on Friday night also wilted in the Bilbao heat. The Champions Cup will of course be questioned again by plenty in terms of the whole set up and why the competition was altered back in 2014.

Leinster are yet again waking up and left pondering what may have been as that was a 10^th appearance in the Champions Cup Final and worryingly for those hopeful contenders a 5^th defeat in a row and as I mentioned a 6^th consecutive French winner.

Leinster will have to wait until the season is ended to properly review what occurred in Bilbao but it’s another defeat and while winning the URC is special, this group seeminly hold themselves to those lofty high standards of winning in Europe year in and out.

Yes they have made a number of finals in recent times but have come out the wrong side to the result far too many times for it to be a “blip” and I don’t think “learnings” will work either, Questions have to be asked of the coaching group while certain big name players didn’t perform on the big day.

Reiko Ioane was brought in hot on the heels of Jordie Barrett from December of 2025 until now and may have 3 further games in blue if Leinster make in to the URC Grand Final on June 20^th. Bordeaux are coached by Yannick Bru, he of course is assisted by men like Shaun Sowerby and Clare man Noel Mc Namara who looks after the Bordeaux backs.

Bordeaux’s win was built on solid defence, power up front in the set piece and attacking play that has seen them freely score tries from anywhere with the likes of Maxime Lucu and Mathieu Jailbert leading the way helped by Louie Bielle Biarrey, Damien Penaud who now goes one better than his father Alain who won a Heineken Cup in 97 with Brive by winning his 2^nd medal yesterday.

The frightening this is, they went unbeaten again this campaign and will now have sights on a 3^rd straight title in 2027.

No one would back against them doing it like Toulon did back in the mid 2000s. Like Toulon, they are backed heavily by a wealthy owner and have a strength in depth that others teams can only dream of no matter what may be said by those in public.

From an Irish point of view, yesterday was another sobering reminder of how far the 4 teams may still need to climb to reach the summit of Europe’s premier competition. Leinster have been to the big dance several times but have been beaten each time and yesterday they were dismantled by Bordeaux.

Leinster have something close to the strength in depth of the Top 14 but maybe the quality isn’t quite of the Top 14 standard in particular at this minute which is something that those in charge of at Leinster and the IRFU may need to look into at the end of the season.

The French strangle hold will be broken of course as other strangle holds were in years past but this will take some creative thinking from teams and coaches across the URC and Gallagher Prem to see who is good enough to come out of the pack and take the Trophy away from Bordeaux and the Top 14 sides.

Huge congratulations goes to Union Bordeaux Begles on winning the Champions Cup for a 2^nd straight year, well done to Noel Mc Namara who recently signed a long term contract to stay in Bordeaux for another few years, his coaching stock has risen since his time with the Ireland under 20s and his time with the Leinster academy as manager. He spent time in the URC with the Sharks who are based in Durban.

He coaching expertise will be much sought after you can be sure so well done to Bordeaux for getting him to sign the aforementioned long term deal earlier in the campaign.

For Leinster, it’s back to the drawing board although I am sure that is getting harder to do as the years go by but they have to try and get going again to see can they defend the URC crown they won last year…..

Leinster and Ulster are in European Final action this weekend. Ulster play Montpellier in the Challenge Cup Final tomorrow evening at 8pm in Bilbao. Leinster face Bordeaux Begles in the Champions Cup Final on Saturday at 2.45pm.

Ulster defeated Exeter in the semi final stage and although they will be missing a number of big names through injury and suspension, they will still feel they can end the season on a high note after some poor results at the end of the URC campaign.

Richie Murphy has worked hard with the Ulster squad to get them playing an attacking brand of rugby. Jimmy Duffy for his part has worked tirelessly to keep the Ulster forwards competitive in games where they have struggled at scrum time. Aengus Bell will be fit to take his place in the 23 from the start or off the bench.

This is a first Final for Ulster since the loss to Leinster in Twickenham in the Champions Cup Final of 2012. Ulster have gone from rock bottom to Challenge Cup finalists over the past year and also improved their overall showings in the league this season.

Mark Sexton is part of the Ulster coaching set up after working with Richie Murphy with the Ireland under 20s before accepting the role with Ulster. He has worked his magic and has Ulster playing well. They still get caught up front and will need to work hard against Montpellier to make sure that the set piece doesn’t completely derail any hopes of a win tomorrow evening.

Ulster need some luck in the game tomorrow evening, they did have a poor end to the League season but will just have to tap into the good form of mid-season in particular if they are to win. It will be a huge effort to get past a powerful Montpellier side who will also see this as a way of securing Champions Cup rugby for next year by winning the game.

Both teams will be hell bent on putting their best foot forward, let’s hope both sides go out and attack each other and it doesn’t end up in a slug fest. Ulster have shown this year they can score from anywhere, they will need that quality along with a water tight defence to snuff out any Montpellier attacks.

I think Montpellier will have too much power up front and that will mean they will squeeze Ulster and that alone might be enough to win the game tomorrow.

Leinster go into familiar territory on Saturday afternoon in another Champions Cup Final appearance. They last won the title in 2018 in Bilbao beating Racing 92 in a tight contest, since then though they have appeared in a number of finals and come up short in their own stated aim to win another Champions Cup title.

Even though players old and new may not like to admit it, there is serious pressure on Leinster this weekend to add a 5^th star to the 4 previous wins. Mentally, another defeat will do more harm than good again no matter what might be said publically or privately from the playing squad or coaching staff.

Leinster have had a mixed year, they have been caught between two stools in terms of a playing style and the defence system employed since Jacques Nienber came on board. Rieko Ioane replaced Jordie Barrett as Leinster’s marquee signing and will want to be involved on the big day as Jordie Barrett didn’t start last season’s semi final loss vs Northampton Saints. He may get a place on the wing as Leinster could be without Tommy O Brien, JJ Kenny through injury but could welcome James Lowe back into the starting XV after his return against the Ospreys last weekend. His return could be very timely given the injuries in the Leinster wing department.

Leinster will face a Bordeaux side who know how to win on the big day having won against Northampton in last season’s decider in Cardiff. Leinster should have a number of loose heads back at their disposal with Paddy Mc Carthy and Alex Usanov returning to full fitness to provide competition for Andrew Porter, Thomas Clarkson will back up Tadgh Furlong on the tight head side.

Leinster have the fire power to defeat Bordeaux Begles but the pressure that Leinster will be under because of all the near misses could be an unseen complication.

They have plenty of players who have been there and done it on the big day in blue and green jerseys. Those are the players that Leinster will need to lean on when they are under the pump at various moments through the game.

It has been pointed out that French sides have taken control of the Champions Cup in terms of winning on the big day and would it not be good for the competition for Leinster to win on Saturday, unfortunately sport like life doesn’t do sentiment and even though it might be nice to see Leinster win on Saturday, they will need to go out and perform to wrestle the Cup away from French hands.

That being said, I give Leinster a decent shot at beating Bordeaux but like the game the previous evening, I think the Bordeaux forwards along with their scintillating back play might over power Leinster and win yet another Champion Cup for France…