Leinster bury memories good and bad before Champions Cup final
Bilbao holds fond memories for Leinster and head coach Leo Cullen, but they will be left in the past on Saturday afternoon. Leinster are aiming to win their fifth Champions Cup title but Bordeaux, the reigning champions, stand in their way. Much has been made of the Irish province's recent record in European finals.
Since winning the Champions Cup in 2018 in Bilbao, they have lost their four most recent deciders. That includes three defeats in a row from 2022 to 2024, but they are back in the decider as they look to topple a star-studded Bordeaux side. For Cullen, any memories, good or bad, won't come into the equation on Saturday.
"It was a great day back in 2018 but it's in the past now," said Cullen. "It's a totally different challenge with a different group. "Everyone's worked incredibly hard to get to this stage and it's amazing to be here now, but it's going to be a serious challenge "But it's what we want, to be at this stage.
So let's try and embrace the occasion and make sure we try to deliver our best performance. " From bankruptcy to 'people's team' - Bordeaux's rise Cullen added it was a "privilege" to be back in a European final, but says it is now up to Leinster to get the job done. The Leinster starting team contains 14 Ireland internationals, and the other player is All Black Rieko Ioane.
"At the start of the season everyone is thinking about getting to this point," Cullen added. "There's a certain level of achievement to get to this point, but everyone wants to push on now. " Cullen added it will be a "serious challenge" against Bordeaux, who defeated French champions Toulouse and English Prem side Bath to reach the decider in Bilbao.