European Champions Cup final LIVE: Leinster v La Rochelle live radio and text commentary plus latest scores

Summary

La Rochelle fight back from 17-0 down to retain Champions Cup in pulsating Dublin final
George-Henru Colombe powers over for crucial score as French side dominate second half
Leinster scored three tries in first 12 minutes at Aviva Stadium
Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle rally to cut lead to 23-14 at half-time
La Rochelle complete biggest comeback in Champions Cup final history
French side beat Leinster in similar fashion in last year's final
Leinster replacement Michael Ala'alatoa sent off late on for high tackle

Live Reporting

Mantej Mann

Into the Lions denpublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 20 May 2023
Leinster v La Rochelle (16:45 BST)
La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara insists his side will relish the "lion's den" of a sold-out Aviva Stadium.
La Rochelle are the holders after beating Leinster 24-21 in last year's dramatic final in Marseille.
O'Gara believes his squad are ready for a hostile atmosphere in Dublin.
"There is a certain enjoyment factor when you go into the lion's den," said the Munster and Ireland legend.
"We will either grow or shrink."
Read more here.
Image source, Getty Images
Travelling fans in fine voicepublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 20 May 2023
Leinster v La Rochelle (16:45 BST)
Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent at Aviva Stadium
Still 20 minutes until kick-off but the Aviva Stadium is filling up fast and is awash with noise and colour, with the swathes of Leinster blue interspersed with the bright yellow of La Rochelle.
The travelling fans are in outstanding voice, dreaming of once again scooping the biggest prize in club rugby
Munster defeat perfect preparation - Van der Flierpublished at 16:24 British Summer Time 20 May 2023
Leinster v La Rochelle (16:45 BST)
Leinster's Josh van der Flier insists Saturday's URC semi-final defeat by Munster was the perfect way to prepare for this weekend's Heineken Champions Cup final against La Rochelle.
Jack Crowley's late drop-goal gave Munster a one point victory against Leo Cullen's side after a thrilling game in Dublin.
Despite the loss, Grand Slam winner Van der Flier believes the bruising encounter was ideal preparation ahead of Saturday's European Champions Cup showdown.
"That was as much of a tough knock-out game to prepare for La Rochelle as you could have had," said the 30-year old Ireland flanker.
Read more here.
Image source, Getty Images
Pain of 2022 fuelling Leinster - Gibson-Parkpublished at 16:22 British Summer Time 20 May 2023
Leinster v La Rochelle (16:45 BST)
Jamison Gibson-Park says last year's dramatic Heineken Champions Cup final defeat by La Rochelle has fuelled Leinster's redemption bid as they prepare to meet the French team again.
Leinster face Ronan O'Gara's side in the Dublin decider, 12 months on from an agonising 24-21 loss in Marseille.
The Irish province are hoping to equal Toulouse's haul of five Champions Cup titles with victory on Saturday.
Gibson-Park said the "great teams" use defeats to "spur" themselves on.
"There's probably no doubt that it has [fuelled] us in getting to this point," said the Ireland scrum-half.
"When you work with a collective group to try and get somewhere and you fall at the last hurdle, it's hard, especially when it's like that, a few minutes from the end of the game."
Read more here.
Image source, Inpho
Team newspublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 20 May 2023
Leinster v La Rochelle (16:45 BST)
Leinster: H Keenan; J O'Brien, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, J Lowe; R Byrne, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong; R Molony, J Ryan (capt); C Doris, J van der Flier, J Conan.
Replacements: R Kelleher, C Healy, M Ala'alatoa, J Jenkins, R Baird, L McGrath, C Frawley, C Ngatai.
La Rochelle: B Dulin; D Leyds, UJ Seuteni, J Danty, R Rhule; A Hastoy, T Kerr-Barlow; R Wardi, P Bourgarit, U Atonio; R Sazy, W Skelton; P Boudehent, L Botia, G Alldritt (capt).
Replacements: Q Lespiaucq-Brettes, J Sclavi, G Henri Colombe, T Lavault, R Bourdeau, U Dillane, T Berjon, J Favre.
Leinster ring the changespublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 20 May 2023
Leinster v La Rochelle (16:45 BST)
Fit-again wing James Lowe returns as Leinster make 12 changes for Saturday's Heineken Champions Cup final against La Rochelle in Dublin.
Jimmy O'Brien, Robbie Henshaw and Jack Conan are the players retained from last week's United Rugby Championship semi-final loss to Munster.
Leo Cullen's team shows two changes from the Champions Cup semi-final win over Toulouse.
Henshaw replaces Charlie Ngatai at centre with Lowe in for Jordan Larmour.
We'll have the full line-ups next...
Image source, Inpho
'Titles mean nothing in this competition'published at 16:11 British Summer Time 20 May 2023
Leinster v La Rochelle (16:45 BST)
Speaking to ITV Sport, Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said: "We are just excited to get going, it feels like a long wait. This final has been in Dublin before and we haven't been here.
"Pressure is a great thing and for our guys now it's just about delivering on the plan. It focuses the mind and we are excited to focus all of our energy into this game now.
"Titles mean nothing in this competition there are only good teams left. It's on the day and how you manage the occasion and how much pressure we can out on La Rochelle."
Leinster are looking for revenge...published at 16:05 British Summer Time 20 May 2023
Leinster v La Rochelle (16:45 BST)
The challengers...
Image source, Getty Images
The defending champions...
Image source, Getty Images
It's a repeat of last year as Leinster face La Rochelle in the Heineken Champions Cup final.
Leinster's Aviva Stadium is being used as the venue, so will 'home' advantage count?
Kick off is at 16:45 BST...