It will have been 210 days since Leinster's heartbreaking European Cup final defeat to La Rochelle when they clash once again in the opening round of this years competition. La Rochelle v Leinster has gone the way of the French side three times in a row, including the last two European finals.
Since that result in the Aviva, Leinster have replaced the outgoing Stuart Lancaster with back-to-back World Cup winning coach, Jacques Nienaber.
They have also replaced the now retired Jonathan Sexton as captain with James Ryan and Gary Ringrose taking up the role of co-captains. With the small matter of World Cup in the middle of that as well, it has not been a simple transition of power in the Leinster ranks.
When is La Rochelle v Leinster?
Leinster travel to the Stade Marcel Deflandre with kick off on Sunday December 10th at 3:15pm.
How to Watch La Rochelle v Leinster
The match is available on the newly branded TNT Sports 1 (formerly BT Sports). Coverage will begin at the end of Sale Sharks v Stade Francais.
Leinster Team News
New Leinster head coach Jacques Nienaber began his new role last week with a trip to the Sportsground following a narrow victory over Munster in the Aviva Stadium. Leinster pulled out to a considerable 19-8 lead with 25 minutes left in Galway. Only to concede 14 unanswered points and be left trailing by three with the clock in the red. It was the in form Ciaran Frawley who pulled it out of the fire for Leinster with a last minute try.
FT Connacht 22-24 Leinster
Heartache for Connacht as Ciarán Frawley wins it for the visitors at the death #RTErugby pic.twitter.com/SPGHG2kCsO— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 2, 2023
While Leinster sit atop the URC, this is their biggest challenge of the season to date. La Rochelle have their number in this competition. With the fly half role still a source of great debate for Leinster and their fans, this is probably the least assured Leinster have looked since 2015, prior to Lancaster joining the province.
Ross Byrne has been ruled out until the new year after sustaining an arm injury against Munster. Leinster will also be without one of their brightest young talents in Jamie Osborne is undergoing a procedure for a shoulder injury sustained in Galway.
Nienaber backs Harry Byrne at fly half while Ciaran Frawley awaits introduction from the bench. It is a new look back row for last year's runners up as Ryan Baird gets the start 6 and Will Connors makes his first start in Europe since 2021 after suffering back to back injuries that year, the first of which came with Ireland during the Six Nations.
Josh Van Der Flier is dropped to the bench while there is no place for Jack Conan or Tadhg Furlong as Samoa captain, Michael Ala'atoa gets the start. Dan Sheehan gets the start at hooker and will earn his 50th cap for the province.
🏉 | 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧!!
Here is the #LeinsterRugby team to face @StadeRochelais on Sunday afternoon in the @ChampionsCup#SRvLEI #FromTheGroundUp pic.twitter.com/wYGmiayPGH— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) December 8, 2023
La Rochelle Team News
La Rochelle are a far more settled outfit off the back of two European Cup titles in two years. They haven't started in ideal fashion this year as they sit 9th in the Top 14 with a major issue of late being head coach, Ronan O'Gara's disciplinary record in recent weeks.
A particular low point this season was a 32-10 hammering at the hands of Stuart Lancaster's Racing outfit, after Teddy Thomas was red carded mid way through the first half. Last week saw the return of Leinster bogey man, Will Skelton, and with it a return to form as they beat a rather hapless Perpignan side, 32-6.
#TOP14 - Le bond de la J9
"I Believe I Can Fly"🎵🎶
Bourgarit et son essai façon "Gers. Kelly" 😂
Le talonneur du @staderochelais prend son envol pour faire chavirer le stade Marcel-Deflandre 🛫 pic.twitter.com/oQtdi3YsDk— TOP 14 Rugby (@top14rugby) December 3, 2023
Ronan O'Gara has selected 12 of the starting XV which won that 27-26 thriller at the Aviva in May. Kerr Barlow and Hastoy return to the half back positions with Jonathan Danty and Will Skelton seeking to repeat the kind of immense performance that got their side over the line the last time the two sides met. La Rochelle are without their captain for last season's European cup success, Gregory Alldritt, as Yoan Tanga gets the start at 8. Ultan Dillane will get his chance to make an impact off the bench, much like he did in last year's final.
J1 🗺 || La compo pour la réception du Leinster, dimanche !
©️ Bourgarit capitaine
💯 Lavault, 100ème
💨 Une troisième ligne Boudehent - Botia - Tanga#SRvLEI | #ChampionsCup | #FievreSR— Stade Rochelais (@staderochelais) December 8, 2023
