BISH BASH, CROCH

LEINSTER’S Champions Cup clash with La Rochelle tonight has all the ingredients to make it an epic.

- BY DEREK FOLEY

The clubs combined have eight appearances in the last eight finals and faced each in both the 2022 and 2023 deciders.

So it's little wonder that familiarity has built up such antipathy - they simply don't like each other.

And coaches Leo Cullen and Ronan O'Gara have extra skin in the Aviva game with both being touted as potential successors to Andy Farrell when his Ireland reign ends.

The selection of Sam Prendergast at out-half over Harry Byrne for such an important showdown would appear to double down with regard to first-choice at Leinster - if he performs well it makes him favourite for green No.10 shirt during the Six Nations too. Leinster will field 13 Ireland internationals, a November 2025 All Black plus breakthrough star Joshua Kenny on the wing in their starting lineup. La Rochelle's more cosmopolitan mix features Fiji flanker Levia Botia, Aussie lock Will Skelton, England winger Jack Nowell and 23-year-old Georgia wonderkid Davit Niniashvili - all household names in their own countries.