Will Slattery

So that's kind of the Leinster team.

Anything else Leinster related before I touch on Bordeaux?

It really is.

Yeah, it's been a difficult season at times.

They haven't been at their best, but I do think they are coming to the start line tomorrow playing the best rugby they have this season or looking the best.

They have a good 23 squad there.

even though I'm glad I like the way that Leo Cullen picked the team the last two weeks between the semi and the final like everyone there has played game time bar Tommy O'Brien who was injured and he's been playing so well for so long I have no worries about him hitting the level required so I do think they're in a good place heading into Saturday but we'll talk about Bordeaux in just a second after this break We train on local pitches and play in packed stadiums We give our all for clubs in every corner of this island

Okay, so the Bordeaux team, like Leinster, not much changes.

I think it's an unchanged team from the semi-final, a few changes on the bench.

People are very familiar with a lot of these star names at this stage, like Rayassi, Pennault, Biabiré in the back line, Jalabern Luka with halfback, and an underrated pack like, you know, Maxime Lamont, the hooker, the red-headed hooker, like maybe not...

you know Melvaca and Marchand get more kind of star I suppose quality from them or more well-known guys the Toulouse double act but Lamothe has been brilliant for them like Pierre Boqueton the number six was immense against Toulouse in the quarter-final Cameron Wacky a lot of people will be familiar with from his time and

Playing for France as well.

Gazzotti, the number eight, was on that unbelievable 20s team in 2023 that beat Ireland in the final there.

So lots of star quality there.

So no surprises from the Bordeaux team, Cain.

It's just a question of whether Leinster can overcome them.

when you look at the two teams one thing that does jump out like the Bordeaux pack played really really well against Toulouse but on paper you don't play a game on paper like the Leinster pack like if they're going to win should be able to get an edge against that Bordeaux 8 there's not as many star names in that Bordeaux 8 not to say they can't race their game as they did against Toulouse but the names really jump off the team sheet from a Leinster perspective like Lions international players Bordeaux their quality their star quality is definitely behind the scrum so I wonder is that an edge Leinster could potentially get

Alright I think that pretty much covers all the team news what's your good feeling telling me about how tomorrow goes?

Yeah, it's funny.

I've been thinking Bordeaux the entire time, but just as I've gotten a bit closer and now that I've seen the 23s, I'm kind of starting to think, could Leinster get over the line?