Leinster have fought their way into yet another Champions Cup final, where they will be hoping to rid themselves of previous frustrations in European competitions.
It was 2018 the last time Leinster managed to put themselves at the top of the European pile. By their own standards, they've gone through a barren patch with regards to silverware in this competition.
While other Irish provinces would give anything to be in a similar position, it’s crucial for Leinster to go one further and get over the line this weekend.
Leinster have created one of the most effective pathways in global rugby. They’re the envy of clubs even outside of the sport itself. They have an embarrassment of riches when you consider their talent pool, the number of home-grown internationals and their schools system which has created their wealth of readily available professional rugby players.
They have bolstered Irish rugby for the last decade, yet the return on this investment in terms of European trophies has ground to a halt.
At this point, if you’re Irish and don’t support Leinster, it’s still somewhat in your interest that Leinster transfer this systematic success into on-pitch success. It doesn’t say a lot for Irish rugby if our top club team can’t compete at the higher end of European rugby.
We’ve seen the Irish team become successful despite Leinster’s shortcomings, however, the argument is still that successful provinces breed confident and successful players with a habit of winning, contributing to the national team.
Additionally, it’s as important that Ulster win the second tier competition. It would transform the team's development under Richie Murphy.
He has done so with a very different system, and ironically, a lot of what he has pulled together to improve the northern province has been a hybrid of their own home grown and impressive talent development, as well as some of the surplus of talent coming out of Leinster’s system.
Despite Leinster’s strengths, they haven’t been as fluid in their run to this year's final. Expectation isn’t as high as previous years. Their performances haven’t been as consistent as they have been in previously unsuccessful knockout stages. Maybe that’s a good thing.
A different approach might yield a different result. They snuck in under the radar and even experienced heavy criticism along the way. And yet, here they are in the final of the top club rugby competition.
Their opponents will have a huge bearing on the result. Bordeaux Begles have an Irish influence with Noel McNamara operating as their attack coach. He must be the most privileged attack coach in Irish rugby when you consider the quality of player that he can avail of to execute a game plan.
Bordeaux's success isn’t solely down to their players. McNamara has gained credit as a result of his coaching and some of their success is very much dependent on the Clare man. Not bad for a teacher with a non-rugby background.
The danger for Leinster is that Bordeaux can play poorly, off the back of questionable domestic form, but still strike quickly to take any opposition out of their comfort zone. Their blend of power and pace is the blueprint for successful rugby teams.
It’s almost a clash of styles. Leinster are more of a system-based outfit that grind teams down with a high phase count and consistent phase play.
Bordeaux can blow hot and cold but a 20-minute purple patch could give them enough return to win most games. That won’t be enough to beat Leinster in a Champions Cup final, but they still have the ability to turn around a scoreline with flashes of brilliance from players like Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Maxime Lucu.
Their talisman is undoubtedly operating at out-half. Matthieu Jalibert (above) is the fulcrum of the Bordeaux team. His talent is obvious and it inspires those around him to follow him when he runs off on an attacking tangent.
Bielle-Biarrey offers the finishing power outside him, with players like Damian Penaud and Yoram Moefana to link with power and creative ability.
Inside Boris Palu, Adam Coleman and Cmeron Woki, along with game changers like Ben Tameifuna, provide the brawn to complement the attacking power that Bordeaux backline attack.
While Leinster will be looking at the Bordeaux line-up with anticipation, they boast world-class talent themselves.
Jamison Gibson-Park has been driving their attack all season and he could singlehandedly sway the game with his decision-making and execution.
It was a slight knock-on from the scrum-half that started the cascade of frustration in their Champions Cup semi-final. Don’t expect the Irish international to make that mistake again.
Harry Byrne is bound to have a better quality performance than he had in the semi-final. He has earned his starting spot for Leinster. The final is a huge stage for him to cement his place in the Leinster team, in Leinster history and for staking his claim at the Irish jersey.
Leinster have genuine world-class players in their pack. Dan Sheehan and Caelan Doris would make their way onto most teams. They’re powerful in their own right, but they make moments happen in big games and this weekend is when Leinster will need them to have their biggest influence yet.
It’s time now for Leinster to get past their shortcomings in Europe for the last number of seasons and convert this challenging opportunity against Bordeaux Begles on Saturday.
