Leinster hold all the aces against La Rochelle - time to look for third win over ROG in a row
“You can’t live in the past," insists Leinster boss Leo Cullen talking of last season double victory. "We talked about this with the squad as well. You can’t live back there."
Leinster beat La Rochelle twice last season, at the pool stage and then in the quarter-finals.
Nobody would suggest this makes up for a final and two semi-final reverses but it was the slaying of a bogeyman
The Blues who four have Champions Cup stars on their jersey hope to post a third win in a row over two star La Rochelle later today - it would be a reminder form is temporary, class is permanent!
READ MORE: Where did this cup resurface after mysteriously vanishing in 1983?
“You can’t live in the past," insists Leinster boss Leo Cullen talking of last season double victory. "We talked about this with the squad as well. You can’t live back there."
Best not to get too cocky, however, ahead of what will be a noisy affair, a game that will be 101st consecutive sold-out game at 16,000 capacity Stade Marcel Deflandre.
And Cullen has chosen close to an Ireland international team albeit back-three injuries to Hugo Keenan, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe and the Saturday morning withdrawal of Tommy O'Brien - has seen All black star Jordie Barrett, Andrew Osborne and Jimmy O'Brien called in.
By contrast those in La Rochelle's injury-hampered selection are very much peripheral to the France's international side.
Across the French eligible backs Brice Dulin, at 34 year-of-age is unlikely to get recalled to international duty, Jules Favre is uncapped and Antione Hastoy hasn't been involved since being an RWC 2023 squaddie.
When it comes to the pack Greg Alldritt is long-time France captain and while Reda Wardi, Uini Atonio and Paul Boudehent were capped at various points in November, none are considered 'first-choice'.
The injury list includes the abrasive second-row Nick Skelton, preferred place kicker Isaia West and teak-tough centre Jonathan Dante.
Moreover the unavailability of France hooker Pierre Bourgarit and the suspension of his understudy Tolu Latu sees 29 year-old journeyman Quentin Lespiaucq comes in for just his sixth start of the season,
Mixed blessing or not, former Racing 92 favourite Teddy Thomas isn't there either - a player who's dreadful defence used to make Joe Schmidt's eyes light up when he was selected for France!
Continues Cullen: "We have got a very good competitive environment at the moment, lads who know there is an Ireland squad being picked at some stage next week.
"They can lay down a marker this weekend because they’re not just competing against their opponent but also competing for their own personal interest against whoever is playing for one of the other provinces in European action on the same weekend.
"You want that competitiveness in the group, you need that competition that level overall to drive training and preparation.
"Hopefully you see a big performance from the 23, but it’s not just about them, it’s about the wider squad as well."
Stade Rochelais: Brice Dulin; Jack Nowell, UJ Seuteni, Jules Favre, Dillyn Leyds; Antoine Hastoy, Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Reda Wardi, Quentin Lespiaucq, Uini Atonio, Thomas Lavault, Kane Douglas, Paul Boudehent, Oscar Jegou, Grégory Alldritt capt
Replacements: Nikoloz Sutidze, Alexandre Kaddouri, Georges-Henri Colombe, Ultan Dillane, Levani Botia, Judicael Cancoriet, Matthias Haddad, Hoani Bosmorin.
Leinster: Jordie Barrett; Jimmy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jamie Osborne; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Cian Healy, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris capt
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Andrew Porter, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Jordie Barrett
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia).
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