The Heineken Champions Cup final takes place this weekend as Irish region Leinster Rugby take on French powerhouse Stade Rochelais at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on Saturday, May 20.
The final is a repeat of last year's HCC finale, La Rochelle winning their first European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) title in a 24-21 triumph in Marseille – the French outfit notching three tries in the contest while limiting the Irish to kicks at goal.
Leinster are four-time winners of the prestigious EPCR competition – having lifted the title in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018 – and are a regular contender at the back end of the competition having reached six finals in total.
La Rochelle, meanwhile, have the potential to become a dynasty in EPCR rugby under the tutelage of two-time Heineken Champions Cup winner Ronan O'Gara. Both sides topped their Pools with four wins from four, before advancing through the Round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Leinster are –9 on the points handicap (Evens) and 3/10 to win the match straight up. The defending champions are 13/5 to cause an upset on enemy territory.
Leinster dispatched provincial rival Ulster Rugby, English side Leicester Tigers and five-time EPCR champions Stade Toulousain on their route to Dublin, where they will have home advantage – Leinster play their home games at the Aviva Stadium.
La Rochelle, meanwhile, have defeated a trio of English sides on their way to the final – Gloucester Rugby, Saracens and Exeter Chiefs left in their wake.
There are a plethora of try scorers bets worthy of punt in this one. Leinster flanker Josh van der Flier leads the competition with six tries in 2022-23 – with the likes of centre Garry Ringrose (4), hooker Ronan Kelleher (3), full-back Hugo Keenan (3) and wing Jimmy O'Brien (3) also potential candidates.
The French side have threats of their own – scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow (5), hooker Pierre Bourgarit (4), centre UJ Seuteni (3), and number eight Grégory Alldritt (3) are all highly capable of making an impact in the final.
Van der Flier (9/4) and Tawera Kerr-Barlow (4/1) are both easy to back in this one, and a punt on Pierre Bourgarit to cross the whitewash twice at 20/1 is available for the really brave punter.
When it comes to winning advantage, the 11-15 market in favour of Leinster pays out at 5/1 and is exceptional value given how the Irish province dominates at their home venue. La Rochelle to score the last points of the game at Evens is also a good bet should the game pan out in Leinster's favour with the French side chasing the game late.
