The young centre, a giant second-row and the world’s best player – the Toulouse stars looking to take down Leinster

The French giants are looking for their sixth European title while a win for the eastern province would see them draw level on five wins.

Both sides are stacked full of stars, and this is a possible 23-man squad that Toulouse head coach Ugo Mola might go with to take down Leo Cullen’s side this weekend.

15 – Thomas Ramos (France)

The metronomic kicker was surprisingly kept on the bench for Toulouse’s last two knockout wins, with Scotland star Blair Kinghorn starting at full-back. The 28-year-old will be a strong candidate to come back into the starting side given his consistency off the deck and his general stellar play.

14 – Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)

If Ramos does get the nod at 15, it’s hard to know whether Mola would select Kinghorn or the versatile Juan Cruz Mallia on the wing. The Toulouse head coach might opt for the Argentine’s versatility on the bench, where he can cover wing, centre or out-half. Kinghorn hasn’t looked out of place since joining the star-studded Toulouse backline.

13 – Paul Costes (France)

Only 21, Costes has enjoyed a breakout season after starring for France in their U-20 World Cup-winning campaign last summer, where they beat Ireland in the final. The youngster is a real game-breaker and with the French national team not overly stocked at centre, Costes could well be capped this summer against Argentina.

12 – Pita Ahki (New Zealand)

The 31-year-old has been a mainstay at inside centre since joining Toulouse in 2018 after a season with Connacht. A skilled distributor, the Kiwi operates as a crucial link-man in midfield.

11 – Matthis Lebel (France)

He can’t quite seem to break through at international level but for his club, Lebel is lethal. The French flyer has scored 53 tries for Toulouse in six seasons and whoever starts on the right wing for Leinster will need to be switched on throughout.

10 – Romain Ntamack (France)

The playmaker’s return from the ACL injury that ruined his World Cup was perfectly timed for Toulouse and has reinforced how big a loss he was to Fabien Galthie last autumn. Ntamack’s game-deciding try in last year’s Top 14 final highlights the threat he poses with ball in hand, but the 25-year-old also has an excellent passing game.

9 – Antoine Dupont (France)

Leinster and Ireland have been more successful than anyone at keeping Dupont colouring inside the lines. If he wriggles free and creates a few scores off script, that could well decide the contest. He is the world's best player, but will be under pressure to deliver that sort of performance on Saturday.

Leinster's Robin McBryde speaking ahead of Champions Cup final

1 – Cyril Baille (France)

One of the better loosehead props around who mixes power in the tight with some deft touches in the loose. Will have a big battle with Tadhg Furlong at the scrum.

2 – Peato Mauvaka (France)

Another great battle will be Mauvaka vs Dan Sheehan, which is arguably a clash of the world’s best hookers. Like Sheehan, Mauvaka is a terror with the ball in hand and pops up all over the field.

3 – Dorian Aldegheri (France)

A France international, but the 30-year-old tighthead is probably the weakest of the six starting front-rowers so will need a big performance, especially at the scrum.

4 – Thibaud Flament (France)

The 27-year-old’s journey from out-half with Loughborough University in the UK during his college days to second-row/flanker hybrid with Toulouse and France is a remarkable one. Flament is an all-action player who has an impact at the lineout, in defence and carrying the ball.

5 – Emmanuel Meafou (France)

Like Will Skelton, the 25-year-old was born in New Zealand and raised in Australia and like the La Rochelle star, Meafou is a massive man at 6ft 8ins and 145kg. Despite his carrying heft, he needs to do more on Saturday than he has in the last two semi-final defeats to Leinster.

6 – Francois Cros (France)

One of the game’s most tireless tacklers, Cros doesn’t offer much going forward but is rock solid in all other areas.

7 – Jack Willis (England)

The former Wasps flanker has played excellently since moving to France and has been particularly effective at the breakdown, where Leinster will look to limit him.

8 – Alexandre Roumat (France)

Son of legendary French international Olivier, Roumat joined Toulouse last season and at 6ft 6ins, he is very tall for a No 8. More of a Rolls-Royce than a bulldozer; the latter might be what’s required in this final.

Replacements

16 – Julien Marchand (France)

Just like Leinster with Rónan Kelleher, Marchand is a proven international who adds plenty of power off the bench. The 29-year-old is a great weapon to spring in the second half.

17 – Rodrigue Neti (France)

Like Mauvaka, Neti was born in the French pacific island of New Caledonia. The 29-year-old has been capped twice by France.

18 – Joel Merkler (Spain)

Standing at almost 6ft 5ins, the 22-year-old Spanish international is a powerful scrummager who is getting better and better.

19 – Richie Arnold (Australia)

At 6ft 11ins, Arnold is a skilled lineout operator but as you’d expect for a man who has played with Toulouse for six seasons, he exhibits some silky handling too.

20 – Mathis Castro-Ferreira (France)

Trevor Brennan’s son Joshua could feature here but 20-year-old Castro Ferreira came off the bench in the Champions Cup semi-final and started the subsequent Top 14 win over Stade Francais.

21 – Paul Graou (France)

The 26-year-old is only likely to feature if Dupont picks up an injury.

22 – Santiago Chocobares (Argentina)

The centre is only just back from a ban after being cited for a dangerous tackle against Harlequins in the semi-final. The Argentine started last season’s Top 14 final win over La Rochelle and scored a try.

23 – Juan Cruz Mallia (Argentina)

Mallia would be unlucky not to start but could play a vital role if Toulouse get some backline injuries.