Ronan O’Gara takes dig at Leinster ‘arrogance’ ahead of Champions Cup final

Shots fired!

The magnificent Stade Mamés holds great memories for the Irish province, as it was the scene of their last triumph in the competition back in 2018, before many years of heartbreak.

Leinster have a fierce team lined up, but are missing the likes of RG Snyman, James Lowe and Ryan Baird.

Nonetheless, head coach Leo Cullen sounded quietly confident in his words ahead of the game.

He said: “Everyone has worked incredibly hard to get to this stage, it’s amazing to be here, a beautiful stadium and obviously steeped in a lot of tradition which we understand.

“It’s a massive challenge for us, isn’t it? Bordeaux are a quality team. We know it’s going to be a serious challenge but it’s what we want, isn’t it, to be at this stage."

He also spoke about his love and history with the competition, adding: “There was the first Champions Cup, when Leinster lost to Cardiff, and then Cardiff played Toulouse in the final. 

“I remember that because I was coming to the end of being in school. And I remember watching that game specifically in my grandparents house.

“Listen, you fall in love…I was maybe 17-years of age at that stage. I come of school and then Leinster goes (professional) in ‘97.

“I left school in ‘96, I was 19 and you’re a young player, you’re going into see all these Leinster players, having seen them playing club rugby or for Irish rugby.

“Mike Ruddock then presents and he shows clips of Brive against Leicester Tigers in the European Cup final. 

“They were playing a brand of rugby and you were, ‘Bloody hell, this is impressive’. So since then, you want to be part of this great competition."

In his regular column for the Irish Examiner, Ronan O'Gara also gave his thoughts on the game, and managed to throw in a cheeky dig at his old rivals.

The Munster legend wrote: "Leinster are 80 minutes from taking control of the narrative around their legacy, and then they can begin telling everyone again how to play rugby!"