The Irish from Leinster will meet La Rochelle, their tormentor in the last two finals, during the first day of the Champions Cup, without “a feeling of revenge”, assured international center Garry Ringrose on Wednesday. “There is no feeling of revenge. It’s like this: there is no easy match in the Champions Cup. We cannot afford to be timid or to project too far into the future. It’s going to be a huge match, away, in La Rochelle. Especially since we receive Sale next, which is another big team. We are going to have to give everything,” explained Ringrose on the occasion of the launch day of the continental rugby competitions, organized in London.
La Rochelle, double defending champion, beat the Irish franchise in the last two finals: 24-21 in 2022 in Marseille then 27-26 the following year in Dublin. The Maritimes even beat Leinster in the semi-final (32-23) of the 2021 edition.
“History suggests that we haven’t yet figured out how to beat them (smiles). But this kind of match is decided on details. I don’t believe their recent results reflect their true level or their true value. They have quite a few players coming back and that’s working. We expect to find them at their best. We know from experience that we also have to be at our best if we want to have a chance,” continued the Irish international (28 years old, 57 caps). The Rochelais, currently 8th in the Top 14, have been placed in Pool D, where they will face the Leicester Tigers (England), the Stormers (South Africa) and the Sale Sharks (England) after starting, on December 10, against in Leinster.