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History beckons for either Leinster or Racing 92, here's what you need to know
Records can be equalled, firsts can be achieved and history beckons for Leo Cullen or Laurent Travers when Leinster face off against Racing 92 in the European Rugby Champions Cup final on Saturday.
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While Leinster have a formidable record in European finals, Racing are aiming to lift the continent’s greatest rugby prize for the first time, having lost their only previous appearance in the showpiece to Saracens two seasons ago.
There is plenty on the line in Bilbao and we have taken a look at the best Opta stats ahead of the eagerly awaited encounter.
LEINSTER TARGET TOULOUSE & SARACENS BENCHMARKS
Leinster are protecting a proud achievement in European Cup finals, having never lost in the showpiece game. Another win would see them equal Toulouse’s record of lifting the trophy on four occasions.
The Pro14 giants are also aiming to emulate the Saracens class of 2015-16 by winning all nine of their European Champions Cup games in a single season. The Premiership side are the only club to have accomplished such a feat.
Cian Healy, Isa Nacewa, Johnny Sexton and Devin Toner can all equal the record of four European Cup winners’ medals, which is jointly held by Cedric Heymans (Toulouse) and Frederic Michalak (Toulouse and Toulon).
RACING AIMING TO CONTINUE PROUD FRENCH TRADITION
Top 14 clubs are no stranger to success in continental competition and Racing can become the fourth French team to win European rugby’s blue-riband tournament after Toulouse, Toulon and Brive.
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Dan Carter, Joe Rokocoko and Ben Tameifuna are aiming to complete a double of Champions Cup and Super Rugby, a feat that can also be accomplished by Leinster’s Jamison Gibson-Park.
The fixture will also mark Carter’s last in European rugby, while team-mate Wenceslas Lauret – who made a match-high 20 tackles in the semi-final win over Munster – is hoping it will be a case of third time lucky having twice lost finals, once with Biarritz in 2010 and another with Racing two years ago.
CULLEN AND TRAVERS BATTLE FOR HISTORY
Leinster coach Cullen and Racing counterpart Travers are not just fighting it out to lead their sides to glory. The victor will also become the first man to win the tournament as a both player and coach.
ADVERTISEMENT??| @LeinsterRugby’s Leo Cullen and @Racing92’s Laurent Travers are bidding to become the first men to win the tournament as both player and coach. pic.twitter.com/lQvcFIrLcO
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 9, 2018
If Racing claim the trophy then French clubs will collectively hold the most victories by a nation on nine. They currently share that honour with England on eight, while Irish provinces have six wins.
Comments on RugbyPass
Dear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
218 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
218 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
8 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
44 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
15 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
44 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
3 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
7 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
218 Go to commentsSux that homophobia is still a thing though. I wonder how many players who could have become legends never kept playing rugby because they felt unwelcome.
7 Go to commentsCrazy he’s only 28, feel like he’s been around forever - don’t mind the move, safe pair of hands and creates depth in a thin position for ABs. Hopefully aides Kemara’s growth also without thrusting too much responsibility on him
1 Go to commentsMen should show strength and be mean, but they should be able to show emotion to those close yo them in certain times, birth of your child, death of family, proud moment. This article is stupid
7 Go to commentsWhat a weak article…absolute drivel and clickbait, well done. Will stick to rugby365 thanks
7 Go to commentsHonest, discipline, humility… Priceless.
2 Go to commentsSo many excuses. No mention of the SA number 2 being taken out illegally in the 2nd minute. That act of foul play had a massive impact on the SA game. Face it, NZ play pretty dirty very regularly, and it’s only since 2016 they’ve been held to higher officiating standards via stricter officiating and TMO reviews. They deserved to have a man down. Sorry. Fix the yellow and red cards and NZ will win more RWCs. Plus, there WAS a knock on invalidating the one try, so it was NOT a try. Period. Here’s a Kleenex…
218 Go to commentsOverheard conversation between NZ and SA rugby fans everywhere: We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! We’re the greatest! No we’re the greatest! Ireland are arrogant! True but they beat you! We’re the greatest! No! we’re the greatest! Etc. etc, etc.
44 Go to commentsTypical crap Aussie weather
11 Go to comments“If they’d have beaten England, I still feel we would have been talking ‘is this the best team ever,’ ‘is this the best team that’s ever played in the Six Nations'” he said. “I still think they’re not quite that good. I actually don’t think they’re that good.” So Trimble is saying he doesn’t think this is the best 6N team of all time. He is silent on if it is the best Irish team of all time. Can’t disagree with him. Just another misrepresentative clickbait headline from the guys at RP.
44 Go to comments