La Rochelle vs Leinster
28th May 2022 – Kick Off 1745hrs
Rugby – France – European Champions Cup Final
Pick Leinster -11 handicap
Bookmaker William Hill
Odds: Even Money odds taken 18:56 GMT on May 26th, 2022
The big European Challenge Cup Final is set for Saturday and Irish province Leinster look for their fifth title in the tournament.
That would see them equal the record for European stars on their shirt.
Standing in their way at the Stade Velodrome, Marseille on Saturday is the TOP 14 side, Stade Rochelle.
The French side had the better of things in the one previous meeting. Can Leinster turn the tables on them?
Table of Contents
La Rochelle European Champions Cup Final Preview – Will French side triumph?
La Rochelle beat Leinster in last season’s European Champions Cup semi-final.
That was the first such meeting between the two clubs and the French side won it 32-23.
In this year’s semi-final, La Rochelle claimed a very good away win at Racing 92 by seven points.
In the other two knockout rounds of this season’s campaign, La Rochelle beat fellow TOP 14 sides as well.
They triumphed over Bordeaux in the round of sixteen before beating Montpellier in the quarter-finals.
In the match outright for Saturday’s European Champions Cup Final rugby betting, the win for La Rochelle is at 7/2* (odds recorded 18:56 GMT on May 26th, 2022 at William Hill).
They are bringing strong overall form to the table.
La Rochelle have won eight of their last nine fixtures.
They have scored 30+ points in five of their last seven in all tournaments.
La Rochelle have won their two previous matches against Irish sides, both of those on French soil.
They were the runners-up last season when Toulouse got the better of them in the Champions Cup Final.
That is the only loss that La Rochelle have suffered in their last 12 Heineken Cup matches since the start of last season (W11 L1).
So they are a force to be reckoned with.
No team in this season’s competition has spent as much time in the opposition’s territory than the TOP 14 club.
Leinster European Champions Cup Final Preview – Leinster look for number five
Leinster already wear four European stars on their shirts and look to equal Toulouse’s record haul of five.
This is the sixth European Champions Cup final for Leinster and they have a great strike record.
Leinster’s four titles came in just five appearances in the Final.
Saracens were the only ones to get the better of them in the showcase match when they met in 2019.
Leinster have produced some scintillating performances in this season’s tournament.
They go into the Heineken Cup Final as the 1/5 odds-on favourites in rugby betting* (odds recorded 18:56 GMT on May 26th, 2022 at William Hill).
In this season’s semi-final, they knocked over French opposition.
They hosted Stade Toulouse, eliminating last season’s champions with relative ease.
Leinster won 40-17, and that was the second-highest tally of points a team has ever scored in a European Champions Cup semi-final match.
In the quarter-finals, they beat Premiership leaders Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.
Leinster qualified from the Pool stage in fourth place.
How much is their experience going to be a huge factor in Saturday’s showpiece?
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Leinster have won all of their completed matches in this season’s Heineken Cup.
The Irish province play a high-speed game, and they have the quickest average ruck speed of all teams in this season’s competition.
They have averaged more metres and line breaks per Heineken Cup match than any other team this season.
Leinster’s James Lowe is the top try-scorer in this season’s competition.
He has touched down ten times, one short of Chris Ashton’s record of 11 posted in a single campaign.
La Rochelle vs Leinster Betting Advice
The four times that an Irish side has faced a French team in the European Champions Cup Final, the match has gone the way of the Irish team.
Leinster have looked irresistible in this season’s competition and are rightly favourites in Marseille.
It’s high-speed, high quality rugby that they play which is likely to overwhelm their opponents.
The first rugby tip is the Leinster -11 handicap at even money* (odds recorded 18:56 GMT on May 26th, 2022 at William Hill).
Key Facts – La Rochelle vs Leinster Betting Tip
- All four previous finals between an Irish and French team was won by the Irish team on the day
- La Rochelle beat Leinster in last season’s semi finals
- Leinster are four-time European champions
Leinster have toppled big opposition in the form of Leicester Tigers and out-going champions Toulouse in the last two rounds.
La Rochelle have not had quite as tough of a path to the Final as their opponents have.
While the TOP 14 team carry good form, Leinster look primed for that fifth star.
The second rugby tip is pushing for the Leinster 11-15 winning margin at 9/2* (odds recorded 18:56 GMT on May 26th, 2022 at William Hill)
The best betting odds for La Rochelle vs Leinster European Champions Cup Final
La Rochelle to win: 7/2 at Bet365
Draw: 33/1 at Bet365
Leinster to win: 1/5 at Bet365
