Investec Champions Cup final: Will Connors, Hugo Keegan return to Leinster side for Toulouse clash - 'We are strong’
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Updated 24/05/2024 at 16:22 GMT
Leinster have been boosted by the return of two key players ahead of their blockbuster Investec Champions Cup final against Toulouse in London this weekend, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Leo Cullen's side are hoping to equal their opponents' record of five Champions Cup titles with a victory. "They were light years ahead of us," Cullen said. "We feel that we've been chasing them ever since."
Leinster feeding off 'hurt' ahead of Toulouse clash - Doris, Cullen looking for Champions Cup glory
Will Connors has been named in the Leinster starting XV for the Investec Champions Cup final, while Hugo Keenan returns from injury and is also selected.
The competition's two most-decorated sides Leinster and Toulouse will lock horns at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Leinster will look to avenge defeat in the final over the last two years - both won by French opposition La Rochelle - while Toulouse are playing for a record-extending sixth title.
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has made a handful of changes to his starting line-up, with the Irish side boosted by the return of two key players, and feels he has the right balance in his squad.
"There have been a few of those [tough] conversations this week," Cullen told the media ahead of Saturday’s showdown.
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Leinster feeding off 'hurt' ahead of Toulouse clash - Doris, Cullen looking for Champions Cup glory
"Ross Molony, in that instance, is incredibly unlucky because he's been brilliant for the team over the course of the season and in previous seasons as well.
"A few guys are incredibly unlucky to miss out, but we think we have a strong 23 there, who will hopefully represent everybody well.
"Some tight calls in terms of the team, but that’s the nature of the competitive squad we have."
Flanker Connors is back in the squad after missing out against Northampton Saints in the semi-finals and has replaced Josh van der Flier. Connors played in both victories against holders La Rochelle earlier in the tournament.
Another welcome return for Leinster is full-back Keenan, who has recovered from an injury and will feature in the competition for the first time since the last 16, a 36-22 triumph over Leicester Tigers.
James Ryan also returned from injury recently and starred in a 23-21 defeat by Ulster last weekend, but the lock and co-captain has been dropped to the bench for Saturday’s final.
Ryan’s absence from the starting XV means Caelan Doris will continue his captain duties after he played a key role in the win against Northampton at Croke Park earlier this month as Leinster booked their spot in the final.
Lock Jason Jenkins also starts while Molony drops out of the matchday squad, and 22-year-old Jamie Osborne will continue in the midfield alongside Robbie Henshaw.
Cullen has opted for a 6-2 split between forwards and backs, which has resulted in Jimmy O'Brien and Harry Byrne also narrowly losing out on places in the squad.
A victory for Leinster would equal Toulouse's record of five titles, but Leinster coach Cullen knows the task ahead is no easy feat.
"Toulouse are the standard-bearers of the competition really," the Leinster boss said of the Top 14 side.
"Going back to the start of the competition, they were the ones out of the blocks first in terms of professionalism and you could see the set-up they had when the game went professional first.
"They were light years ahead of us, let's be honest. We sort of feel that we've been chasing them ever since."
Toulouse have named England player Jack Willis in the starting line-up as a flanker, while full-back Blair Kinghorn has been picked over France's Thomas Ramos.
Captain Antoine Dupont continues his partnership with Romain Ntamack, while 21-year-old centre Paul Costes has been deployed in the midfield alongside Pita Ahki.
Full Champions Cup final line-ups
Leinster: Keenan; Larmour, Henshaw, Osborne, Lowe; R Byrne, Gibson-Park; Porter, Sheehan, Furlong, McCarthy, Jenkins, Baird, Connors, Doris (C)
Replacements: Kelleher, Healy, Ala'alatoa, Ryan, Conan, McGrath, Frawley, Van der Flier
Toulouse: Kinghorn; Mallia, Costes, Ahki, Lebel; Ntamack, Dupont (C); Baille, Mauvaka, Aldegheri, Flament, Meafou, Willis, Cros, Roumat
Replacements: Marchand, Neti, Merkler, Arnold, Brennan, Graou, Chocobares, Ramos
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