Leinster name unchanged XV from semi-final, but 5 changes on bench

Leinster have named an unchanged XV for the Investec Champions Cup final against Bordeaux-Begles from the one that triumphed over Toulon in the semi-final.

The unchanged side named by Leo Cullen means in-form winger Tommy O’Brien proved his fitness this week after being forced to withdraw from the United Rugby Championship win over the Ospreys last week, prior to kick-off. The Ireland wing was flagged as a doubt this week, but has come through to take his place on the right wing.

While the starters are unchanged, there are plenty of changes on the bench, with Ireland loosehead Paddy McCarthy available for his first match since January following surgery to his foot. He will form a propping duo with Tadhg Furlong, who has replaced Rabah Slimani.

Among the forwards on the bench, the two extra changes see Diarmuid Mangan and Max Deegan included over Alex Soroka and Scott Penny.

The sole change among the replacements in the backline sees Ciarán Frawley get the nod over Sam Prendergast.

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

Leinster

06:45

23 May 26

Bordeaux

All Stats and Data

Leinster have earned back-to-back victories since their semi-final triumph, beating the Lions and the Ospreys while rotating their squad. There is no such rotation this week, of course, as the defending URC champions aim for their fifth European title and first since 2018, which was won at Bilbao’s San Mamés Stadium – the same location as this weekend’s final.

This will be Leinster’s fourth final in five years, losing twice to La Rochelle and once to Toulouse.

Leinster XV: 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Tommy O’Brien, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. Rieko Ioane, 10. Harry Byrne, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park; 1. Andrew Porter, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Thomas Clarkson, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. James Ryan, 6. Jack Conan, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris (c).
Replacements: 16. Rónan Kelleher, 17. Paddy McCarthy, 18. Tadhg Furlong, 19. Diarmuid Mangan, 20. Max Deegan, 21. Luke McGrath, 22. Ciarán Frawley, 23. Jamie Osborne.