The STACKED combined Leinster and Toulouse XV ahead of Champions Cup final
Split wit Leinster's Dan Sheehan and Toulouse's Antoine Dupont.
The biggest game in club rugby has arrived as Leinster and Toulouse face off for what is undoubtedly set to be a blockbuster fixture.
The tasty match-up has encouraged us to pick a combined XV between the two Champions Cup finalists in celebration of the quality on show.
Backline
15 Hugo Keenan (Leinster): The Leinster star is a Rolls Royce of a full-back with a very low error rate. Keenan’s sevens foundation has handed him so many different skills making the Irishman a very complete player when patrolling the backfield, orchestrating counter-attacks or joining in the backline. He will be massive in the final for his side.
14 Jordan Larmour (Leinster): A player who has found his best form again this season through his clever performances, typified by beating defenders left, right and centre. He is a natural finisher and is no doubt a try threat. Larmour’s red-hot campaign has edged him ahead of Juan Cruz Mallia.
13 Robbie Henshaw (Leinster): Another Irishman makes the cut and similar to the other two stars, Henshaw is a very complete player in his position, making him a threat on attack. His ability to attack the line has always been brilliant but recently he has ramped up his playmaking game. Throw in a rock solid defence and there is a very accomplished superstar.
12 Pita Ahki (Toulouse): The first player from the French giants and a critical one for their side in how much structured play goes through the centre. Ahki is an astute rugby player and a dream 12 for any fly-half thanks to his ball-playing ability as well as strength in contact. His all-around game will be crucial for Toulouse.
11 James Lowe (Leinster): One of the best wings in the world this year because he always adds to Leinster or Ireland whether it is getting over the try-line himself or playing someone else in. On defence, he has been solid but his additional value comes through his canon of a left boot which is often used as an exit strategy. Lowe’s kicking game is probably the best out of all the wings in world rugby right now.
10 Romain Ntamack (Toulouse): The Frenchman is an exceptional talent. One of those players that oozes composure and makes the game look really easy at times. Ntamack would have been upset to miss out on a home Rugby World Cup last year through injury and will be desperate to earn his club yet another star.
9 Antoine Dupont (Toulouse): The inevitable selection even despite Jamison Gibson-Park being absolutely red-hot this season. Dupont is an all-time talent and he has proved that translates through to the sevens realm as well where he has shone at stages this season. The superstar will have an influence on the game – whether he scores or assists remains to be seen – and if Toulouse win it’ll have Dupont’s fingerprints all over it.
Power pack
8 Caelan Doris (Leinster): The number eight is a classy operator who is maturing quite nicely into a leader within the Leinster camp. The skipper guarantees work-rate on both sides of the ball and couples that with near-flawless execution of his fundamentals. Doris is at the peak of his powers and few in the world are better.
7 Jack Willis (Toulouse): The Englishman has grown in leaps and bounds at Toulouse, cementing himself in their starting XV as a result. Willis has an outstanding engine which he uses on both sides of the ball as well as exploiting the breakdown. He offers such balance to the bruising Toulouse back-row.
6 Francois Cros (Toulouse): Like his back-row colleagues the Frenchman is an utter workhorse. Cros has been up there this year with the best and every game pulls out serious numbers. In the battle of the loose forwards, he will be critical for Toulouse in this massive clash.
5 Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse): GARGANTUAN! That is one of the few ways to describe the colossal second-row who will certainly be employed as battering ram in chief against Leinster. Meafou is a quality operator and a real bully in the collision which will be a big focal point as to which team comes out on top in London.
4 Thibaud Flament (Toulouse): Once a fly-half for Loughborough and now a silky second-row with the work rate of a man possessed. Flament’s influence on the set-piece is another of his strengths as he will look to get his hands on the ball where possible while burning Leinster with his relentless defence.
3 Tadhg Furlong (Leinster): A legend of Irish rugby. Furlong has developed cult-like status over the years for his slick handling and footwork in open play. However, in the tight and set-piece, he earns his money by being Leinster’s rock. The veteran will be absolutely desperate to add another Champions Cup to his decorated career.
2 Dan Sheehan (Leinster): Superstar. Sheehan is one of the world’s leading hookers and takes it even a step further as his mobility and pace off the mark are influencing what is expected from a modern hooker. The Irishman is a prolific scorer and will be one of the key influencers on Saturday.
1 Cyril Baille (Toulouse): The loosehead is an absolute anchor in the scrum, very rarely taking a step back. Elsewhere Baille notches up some high tackle counts in most games he is involved in and it’s a given he will have his hand up to carry the ball, too. He is and has been for some time in the elite bracket for props around the globe.