Here’s Robert Kitson’s match report from Bilbao.
Thanks for reading. Enjoy your evening.
Updated
The whole Leinster team sprint en masse to the Leinster fans behind the posts and celebrate wildly with them, popping champagne corks and belting out “campiones!”.
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) May 12, 2018
Updated
Leinster are crowned champions of Europe!
The captain, Isa Nacewa, in his final season at the club, plants his hands on the trophy and then invites as many of his team-mates as he can to grab it with him, before hoiking it aloft! He kicked the winning points too! What a day for him.
Updated
Racing’s defeated players make their way up to receive their runners-up medals. Iribaren collects his with blood dripping down his forehead. What a performance he put in. And now it’s Leinster’s turn to pick up the European Cup.
Stuart Lancaster is enjoying getting hugs off whoever is within range of him. He looks delighted. His restoration as a coaching force feels like it is complete after his bruising experience at the World Cup with England.
Dan Carter, who was injured today and couldn’t play for Racing, says: “I’m really proud of the boys. We stuck in there for the majority of the game but we just made a few mistakes in the final five or 10 minutes. We play for each other like a family. You can see that from the way we were defending today. I’m really proud of what we have achieved this year.”
A crestfallen Donnachan Ryan speaks: “We thought we were in control with 10 minutes to go. A lack of communication in defence let us down. It was very disappointing. There are no excuses for that. Credit to Leinster. They haven’t lost a [European] game all season.” Kudos to Ryan for speaking so soon after such shuddering disappointment.
A delighted Johnny Sexton speaks: “Wow. We did it the hard way. We couldn’t get going at all. Every time we got into their 22 the ball was killed. They got out and slowed us down at the ruck. I can’t believe we’re champions again. I never thought it would happen three or four years ago. Stuart Lancaster has done so well since he has come in. The belief he has instilled in us.”
@GreggBakowski not a vintage Leinster performance but it doesn’t matter Kings of Europe again. Chapeau R92. Club champs of the NH. Happy days!
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) May 12, 2018
Updated
Full-time: Leinster 15-12 Racing 92
And that’s that! Racing played incredibly well – and worked so hard – against the heavy favourites but Leinster have won a record fourth European Cup, joining Toulouse as European royalty.
Updated
80 min: Racing drive forwards and get Talès within range – but under pressure he lets fly … and misses to the left. That is so, so cruel. But Leinster won’t care.
Updated
79 min: Racing steal back possession straight away. They have competed so, so well today. This is their last chance. Can they get to within range for a drop-goal?
Penalty! Leinster 15-12 Racing 92 (Nacewa)
Boom! Nacewa takes Leinster to within a minute and a half of a fourth European Cup.
Updated
77 min: Penalty to Leinster right in front of the posts! Leinster were building through the phases and offside was given against Racing. It’s going to be Nacewa to take it – in his last European game!
Updated
75 min: Vakatawa tries to steal the ball from Kearney in Leinster’s half and is penalised. Sexton finds touch and Leinster have a lineout on Racing’s 22. Nakarawa steals it but his good work is undone by Thomas, who trots out of play and gives Leinster another lineout.
Penalty! Leinster 12-12 Racing 92 (Nacewa)
Nacewa strokes it home with his right foot. His kicking hasn’t been great today but the captain showed his experience there and nailed it when it really mattered.
72 min: Leinster are stung by that and make good progress up the right, with Ringrose stretching his legs. There are some massive hits and then Iribaren is penalised for a no-arms tackle and Nacewa, not Sexton, is going to go for goal from a right of centre position 35 metres out. Sexton is perhaps feeling a hit.
Updated
Penalty! Leinster 9-12 Racing 92 (Iribaren)
He holds his nerve and sticks it right between the posts, cool as you like. What a game he’s having.
Updated
70 min: Racing set up a driving maul from a lineout on the right and make good ground. An infringement is given against Porter and Iribaren calls for the kicking tee. It’s right over on the touchline, though.
Updated
68 min: But it’s turned over and Leavy is in like a terrier dog to pluck the ball away and hoof clear. Racing are on top here, though, with just under 10 minutes remaining. .
Updated
66 min: Gibson-Park, now at scrum-half in place of McGrath, whacks a ball clear. Racing pick up possession and gather in numbers on the right, where they scramble through gaps before Talès dinks a kick through to take Racing up to around 15 metres. Good pressure from Racing. Henshaw goes mano-a-mano with the huge figure of Vakatawa and forces Racing back a few metres. We’re through 14 phases and the French fans are in full voice.
65 min: Penalty missed! His left foot powers the ball towards the posts but it drifts this far wide of the left post. Will anyone turn this game to their advantage? We need some magic!
Updated
64 min: This is so tight. Utterly attritional. Racing make a few metres from a lineout but a high tackle gives Iribaren a chance to put Racing 92 in front with a penalty from 45 yards. It’s by no means an easy kick.
63 min: Leinster’s replacements are brought into action. Conan, Gibson-Park and Tracy are on for Murphy, Cronin and Luke McGrath. Meanwhile, Sexton is being treated for an unspecified injury. He should be able to continue though. Yes, he gets up and carries on.
Updated
61 min: Finally, Luke McGrath gets the ball in and out and Henshaw tries to carry but finds little room. Murphy has the ball dislodged from his arms but Leinster pick it up and Ringrose attempts to make some ground on the left … but the ball’s turned over and then Racing make a slapstick mess of kicking clear.
60 min: Leinster have a strong bench and their replacements have just got up en-masse to warm up. I tell you this as the scrum is being reset over and over again, which is all a bit tedious.
Updated
59 min: Chat mishandles and knocks on under pressure from Ryan inside his own 22. He’s then replaced by Avei and looks very disappointed with himself. It’s a Leinster scrum.
57 min: Penalty missed! Sexton’s kick drifts about a foot wide to the right. The length was good, though. Leinster are getting on top now. They’re finding pockets of space where previously there were none.
Updated
56 min: Racing make three changes and Leinster bring Jack McGrath on for Healy. And then Leinster win a penalty for a no arms tackle. It’s all about the boot. And Sexton is going to try to put his side in front from all of 45 yards. Will Leinster take the lead?
55 min: There’s a huge hit from Gomes Sa on Murphy as Racing plough into Leinster from the kick-off. McGrath finds the touchline.
Penalty! Leinster 9-9 Racing 92 (Sexton)
That was more like it from Sexton. He nails it straight down the middle.
52 min: The Leinster fans are willing their team on as they begin to show some skill in midfield, offloading swiftly and finally forcing a penalty. This time from around 35 metres out.
Updated
50 min: Leinster try the central route, Henshaw barging through a group of players, before Sexton boots long, pinning Racing back.
49 min: Penalty missed! Sexton, obviously trying to give that kick as much biff as he can, drags it horribly to the left.
Updated
48 min: Leinster win a penalty for an offside 10 metres inside their own half. Some backchat takes the penalty 10 yards forwards and Sexton opts to go for the posts.
46 min: Some housekeeping. Avei has replaced Chat, who has gone off for a head assessment.
Penalty! Leinster 6-9 Racing 92 (Iribaren)
From an angle just left of centre, the scrum-half sweeps it through the posts with his left foot.
Updated
44 min: Racing work through the phases earning only inches on the gain line – but then Arous spins cleverly and takes the ball to within five metres. Leinster’s defensive line is strong though. Racing switch play with some skilful hands and try down the right with Thomas but Leinster hold firm again. Advantage was given at some point through those 20 phases, though. Penalty!
Racing 92’s centre Henry Chavancy tries to escape a tackle by Leinster’s fly-half Johnny Sexton, left, and centre Robbie Henshaw. Photograph: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images
Updated
42 min: But Leinster steal it and Healy bursts through a pocket before possession is turned over and Racing work their way forwards to the Leinster 22 metre line.
41 min: McGrath sends a box-kick forwards and Leinster win possession. Then Nacewa has a chance to kick and run on the left wing but the ball comes off his foot at a horrible angle and Racing win a lineout.
The second half!
40 min: No changes at half-time. We’re off. Will it be another bruising 40 or will someone find their groove?
John McEnerney gazes into his crystal ball:
@GreggBakowski Leinster to settle into their routine after a big 10-15mins from R92 at the start of the 2nd half. Sexton to show why he’s the supreme 10 in the world right now & run his former paymasters ragged! Leinster by 9
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) May 12, 2018
Racing 92 have made 64 tackles to Leinster’s 32, which is evidence of just how hard the French side are working. Just before half-time Dupichot came back on after his head assessment, which is good news for Racing. They can ill afford to lose more players.
Our man at the San Mamés, Robert Kitson, has offered his opinion on the first half:
Brutal first 40 minutes. Leinster's ability to weather huge amounts of pressure and still come away victorious is going to be required again. #ChampionsCupFinal
— robert kitson (@robkitson) May 12, 2018
Half-time: Leinster 6-6 Racing 92
And that’s that. Not a classic half but a ferocious one. Racing have done very well to compete despite the early injury to Pat Lambie. Iribaren has been the star.
Updated
Penalty! Leinster 6-6 Racing 92 (Sexton)
Thwack! Right between the posts. We’re even again.
Updated
36 min: Racing are doing a fine job of preventing Leinster from ever getting a head of steam on. Murphy puts a hit in on the hulking figure of Vakatawa. And then Leinster break and win a penalty for a silly offside by Vakatawa, who grabs his mouth in dismay. It’s within easy kicking range.
33 min: Racing try to roll through the phases down the left wing. A huge kick is sent upwards by Iribaren, who has been brilliant. It’s a Leinster scrum, from which Sexton kicks in the hope that Kearney can get hands on it at around halfway but it’s knocked on for a Racing scrum.
Updated
30 min: It’s Leinster’s scrum. McGrath pops the ball in and collects before trying to release Nacewa on the blindside. Racing read the danger and Leinster switch play to the other wing. Ringrose bashes through a hole and then Sexton pops a kick towards the left wing but it’s deflected and then a knock-on is given against Racing. Leinster tap and play and the pressure builds as they move inside the 10 metre line. But then Leinster give away a penalty for not releasing and lose all that momentum. What a blow!
Updated
28 min: Kearney races forwards from the Leinster 22 and makes it as far as halfway before he is smothered. A couple of kicks are traded before McGrath shows safe hands as he plucks the high ball out of the air, rolls a tackle and advances. Leinster break and show good hands to work the ball left before Henshaw and Dupichot collide like two worlds, face-on, and crumple to the turf. Somehow, they’re up within a couple of minutes. That was a sickening collision. Barnes stops play to make sure they’re OK. Dupichot is then taken off for a head assessment and Rokocoko is on in his stead.
Updated
26 min: Murphy offloads smartly and sends Leinster over to the left side of the pitch, where they roll through a couple of phases and try to build some pressure. But then Leinster give away a penalty and Racing have the chance to clear. Barnes has a word with Fardy about holding on. Boos ring out from the miffed Leinster fans but that was a fair call.
Updated
24 min: The Racing fans are in good voice as Leinster win a lineout and Sexton tries to switch play from left to right. Leinster’s forwards try to make headway with some bruising surges forwards. Sexton takes it upon himself to whack a huge high kick into the sky and behind Racing but the French side deal with the danger and Iribaren boots clear with calm authority.
Penalty! Leinster 3-6 Racing 92 (Iribaren)
His right boot sweeps it between the posts. Racing have the lead again.
21 min: Racing win a penalty. Advantage is given but it comes to nought and now Iribaren will go for the posts.
18 min: A scrum inside the Leinster half. It’s scrappy and Leinster win a penalty. Sexton boots it into touch. Leinster make a meal of the lineout and Iribaren’s kick into the corner is a brilliant one for Racing 92. A wasted opportunity for Leinster to build a concerted attack. And now Racing are pushing a maul over the Leinster 22 metre line.
Penalty! Leinster 3-3 Racing 92 (Sexton)
The fly-half makes no mistake from close-range. It’s all square.
Updated
16 min: Nacewa wriggles away inside the Racing 20 metre line after a lovely decoy run inside him. He heads for the line, but a last-ditch tackle brings him to a halt. This is good pressure from Leinster. Teddy Thomas nicks possession but offside is given. Penalty!
14 min: Racing sweep from left to right with some good offloads and head towards the Leinster corner, but a high tackle on Sexton leads to a penalty and now it’s Leinster’s turn to attack.
11 min: Donnacha Ryan of Racing has gone down clutching his shoulder after being turned on a lineout. After a bit of treatment he’s up again and Barnes doesn’t see anything wrong with the challenge.
Updated
7 min: A forward pass leads to a Leinster scrum. There’s a huge cheer from the Irish fans, which shows you how little they have seen from their team so far. The scrum is reset. Wayne Barnes says he needs “more space”. The ball is worked out to Nacewa, who dinks a grubber kick forwards and chases but Teddy Thomas of Racing deals with it comfortably.
Updated
6 min: Teddy Ibaren’s feet are singing here. Under pressure just inside his own half, the scrum-half hooks a kick towards the corner and keeps Racing 92 on the front foot.
5 min: Larmour wallops a kick forwards and tries to scamper after it but Arous collects with cool hands and returns fire. Leinster are back in possession at halfway and are trying to scramble forwards.
Penalty! Leinster 0-3 Racing 92 (Ibaren)
Ibaren slots the penalty. It was given for a high tackle. Poor Lambie’s knee is being strapped as he watches on.
3 min: Lambie skips through at around half way and crumples to a heap after turning inside. This is awful. He’s going to have to be replaced. He’s crestfallen. And with Dan Carter injured Rémi Talès replaces him.
Updated
2 min: Teddy Iribaren nails a brilliant 50-yard kick into touch to settle the French side’s nerves early on.
We're off!
1 min: Leinster get the game under way. Here we go!
Could those berets be the equivalent of Liverpool’s white suits in the FA Cup final in 1996? Leinster’s players look particularly nonplussed by them.
The teams march out into this grand arena – and the heavens have just opened to greet them. Racing 92’s players have donned berets for the occasion. How very Parisien!
Updated
The atmosphere is building in the San Mamés Stadium. The weather is grey and damp, similar to Britain and Ireland really – and perfect for rugby!
Updated
Leinster head coach Leo Cullen speaks. He’s happy with the 15 he’s chosen and believes getting to the final has been a huge squad effort: “We’ve used 37 players in the eight game so far. It takes a lot to get to this stage. It’s been an obsession for a lot of us for a number of seasons now. It was great to drive into the ground and see the sea of blue outside.”
Not long to kick-off now. If we have entertainment anything like that in the Challenge Cup final yesterday, we’re in for a treat. Here’s Robert Kitson’s match report from that belting match.
Preamble and teams
Hello. It’s the big one in Bilbao. Leinster are hoping to crown a stunning year for Irish rugby by winning the European Cup for a fourth time, which would equal the record set by Toulouse in 2010. Leinster have swept all before them in Europe this season and head into this final in Bilbao as red-hot favourites. The Teddy Thomas-inspired Racing 92 stand in their way. They have been French champions on five occasions but the European crown has eluded them so far, though they were finalists in 2016. They are without their captain, the scrum-half Maxime Machenaud, and Dan Carter misses out through injury, with Pat Lambie getting the nod at fly-half. Leinster are captained by Isa Nacewa in his last game in Europe before retirement and Johnny Sexton starts at No 10 with the pack unchanged from the semi-final victory over Scarlets.
Leinster: 15 R Kearney; 14 J Larmour, 13 G Ringrose, 12 R Henshaw, 11 I Nacewa (capt); 10 J Sexton, 9 L McGrath; 1 C Healy, 2 S Cronin, 3 T Furlong; 4 D Toner, 5 J Ryan; 6 S Fardy, 7 D Leavy, 8 J Murphy.
Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Rhys Ruddock, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Rory O’Loughlin
Racing 92: 15 Louis Dupichot; 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Henry Chavancy, 11 Marc Andreu; 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Teddy Iribaren; 1 Eddy Ben Arous, 2 Camille Chat, 3 Cedate Gomes Sa, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 8 Yannick Nyanga.
Replacements: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Census Johnston, 19 Boris Palu, 20 Baptiste Chouzenoux, 21 Antoine Gibert, 22 Rémi Talès, 23 Joe Rokocoko
Kick-off: 4.45pm BST
Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng)
Updated
