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Leinster seek redemption after four final defeats
Leinster Rugby will face Bordeaux in the Champions Cup final on Saturday, hoping to break a four-year streak of defeats in the competition's showpiece match. The Irish province last lifted the trophy in 2018 and has since lost three consecutive finals, including a heartbreaking extra-time defeat to Toulouse last year.
Recent struggles and lessons learned
Since their 2018 victory over Racing 92 in Bilbao, Leinster have fallen short in each subsequent final. In 2022, Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle edged them 24-21 in Marseille, followed by a one-point loss at Dublin's Aviva Stadium the following year. Last season, Toulouse triumphed 31-22 after extra time. Centre Garry Ringrose, one of the few remaining players from the 2018 win, reflected on the narrow margins that decided those matches.
"All the big games I've been involved in with Leinster, I've learned valuable lessons from-some more painful than others. They were all close, decided by fine margins. We can't control the outcome, only our preparation."
Garry Ringrose, Leinster centre
A season of challenges
This campaign has been atypical for Leinster, who finished second in the United Rugby Championship but failed to dominate as in previous years. Six defeats in 18 matches left them trailing Glasgow Warriors in the standings. Assistant coach Robin McBryde acknowledged the difficulties, citing injuries and the aftermath of the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia as contributing factors.
"It's been a different season. If you'd asked us at the start whether we'd be happy to face Bordeaux in the final, we'd have bitten your hand off. It's been a rocky road, but we're glad to have the opportunity."
Robin McBryde, Leinster assistant coach
Bordeaux: A formidable opponent
Leinster will face a Bordeaux side considered by many as the best team in the world. The final, held in Bilbao-the site of Leinster's last triumph-could feel like a home game for the French club. Ringrose praised Bordeaux's attacking flair and defensive work ethic, calling the match the "biggest challenge" of the season.
Only eight players from the 2018 squad remain, and Ringrose, one of them, recalled the rain-soaked final in Bilbao as a defining memory. "The atmosphere was amazing, but the weather was lashing rain," he said. "We're always evolving, and this weekend will test how far we've come."
Injury concerns ahead of final
Leinster's preparations have been disrupted by injury worries, with details emerging about potential absences. Despite the setbacks, the team remains focused on ending their final hoodoo. McBryde emphasized the importance of seizing the moment: "We've proven we can reach the final. Now, it's about taking that next step."
What's at stake
A victory would mark Leinster's fifth Champions Cup title and end a five-year wait for silverware. For Bordeaux, it would be their first triumph in the competition. Both teams enter the match with something to prove, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash in Spain.
