Leo Cullen: Leinster will need their best to beat Bordeaux in Bilbao

The sides face off in the San Mames on Saturday afternoon.

Fri, 22 May, 2026 - 11:35

Brendan O'Brien

Leo Cullen has predicted that it will take Leinster at their very best to overcome Bordeaux-Begles and win a first Champions Cup title in eight years.

It has been a topsy turvy campaign for a province that suffered in the initial weeks and months as they slowly reintegrated their army of British and Irish Lions and other players who had toured with Ireland last summer.

Six losses in the URC were incurred along the way and, while they bring a perfect ‘European’ record to Saturday’s decider in a sweltering Bilbao, they have played only in fits and starts along the way in that tournament too.

Bordeaux are reigning champions and have already taken down the French and English champions having evicted Toulouse and Bath from the competition in the last two rounds. It’s a daunting task for a side that has lost its last four appearances at this stage.

Bilbao, though, is a city that holds good vibes for Leinster. It was here in 2018 that they won their fourth title when edging Racing 92 on a 15-12 scoreline on what was a pig of a day in the Basque Country.

“Yeah, very good memories, and of this [media] room as well. It was Isa [Nacewa] and Johnny [Sexton] were up here the last time, weren’t they? So, yeah, it was a great day for us in 2018, but that’s in the past now.

“It’s a totally different challenge now and a different group.

“Everyone has worked incredibly hard to get to this stage, it’s amazing to be here, a beautiful stadium and obviously steeped in a lot of tradition which we understand. Massive challenge for us, isn’t it? Bordeaux are a quality team.

We know it’s going to be a serious challenge but it’s what we want, isn’t it, to be at this stage. It’s trying to embrace the condition and make sure we deliver our best performance because that’s what it will take.” The heat is going to be a factor this time.

Temperatures are expected to hit the mid-thirties early next week but a high of 27 is being predicted for game day. World Rugby uses a heat index to decide whether water breaks are required but tournament organisers EPCR don’t see that being needed here.

“Obviously it’s very different to back home but we have all played in conditions like this with humidity and temperatures right up there,” said Leinster captain Caelan Doris.

“A few of us were talking about how the Romania game in the World Cup [with Ireland in 2023] was something similar and maybe a bit higher.

“You just get on with it. Obviously the medical and nutrition team will manage things. Just break it into smaller pieces in your mind rather than one big thing you’re attacking. Moment by moment.”