Bernard Jackman

So they're owned by a billionaire who owns Altrad Construction.

and historically they bought the Galacticos they bought the best players in the world and tried to put them together and they had a little bit of success with that but this is a different model they have a lot of local coaching staff headed by Bernard Laporte who's director of rugby they have some quality likes of Billy Vunopola Marty Banks the All Black but it's homegrown players and they're very very strong they took Connacht apart in the quarter final very strong maul and with Ulster missing Ian Henderson through suspension Stuart McCluskey through injury

Although they do have Robert Balacoon back, it's a big ask.

Yeah, Bordeaux are champions and trying to go back to back.

Bordeaux obviously have been building quite nicely.

They have a poor record in finals until they beat Northampton last year in Cardiff.

but they have Stardust Maxime Lucu at nine Mathieu Jalibert at ten and then the superstar of world rugby at the moment Louis-Biel Barré he got injured last week as Perpignan he was seen limping out of the stadium but by all accounts they're going to tape him up and put him out there and he is he just has such speed I mean there's a lot of

pace in both teams but Bia Barry is just a different level and every time they get a turnover they just kick it along and he just wins the foot race so Leinster will be hoping that he's not at 100% Okay and if he is at 100%

Look, Leinster's defence has really shown improvement over the last couple of weeks.

Leinster are full of quality players.

But unfortunately, him, Peno, who plays centre, Reassi, who's a full-back, they have a lot of individual brilliance.

So they don't really play to structure.

They play a lot on transition, a lot of counter-attack.

And that flair, that talent, that athleticism could be very hard for Leinster to shut down.

I think Leinster will win it.

but it's a big challenge the last couple of weeks they've really improved and they've been there done that and for this generation of Leinster players not to have a European Cup I think is it's hard to believe because they're some of the best players we've ever had but it is a big test Yeah and it's extraordinary because they were beaten Toulon Toulouse were doing brilliantly then La Rochelle were doing brilliantly Saracens were doing brilliantly now Bordeaux were doing brilliantly and Leinster have always been there or thereabouts

over an extended period it's extraordinary in fairness you have to admire their consistency because they keep coming back none of the finals they've lost they haven't performed but unfortunately they've got this knack now of just finding themselves the wrong side of the result in knockout rugby and I know that Northampton last year their coaches said that to build belief in their team they showed examples of Leinster what they call choking under pressure

and obviously Bordeaux will believe in that but once Leinster get over that line once I think they could go and win a couple but getting over the line is the hard part I love your enthusiasm I love your optimism the heat tomorrow or tonight and tomorrow I'm not playing I'll be doing a Steve Staunton on it no but yeah it's going to be incredibly hot I think they're going to put a water break in but certainly that will suit Bordeaux more yeah okay

It is, but at the moment, the most likely one is West of the Shannon in Stuart Lancaster.

Obviously, doing an incredible job.