By PAUL REES

PREVIEW...
Leinster v La Rochelle
Today. Kick-off 3.15pm, Stade Marcel Deflandre

Centre: Garry Ringrose

THE match of the opening round is a repeat of the last two finals, La Rochelle and Leinster, a contest that has been given added significance by the presence of South Africa’s World Cup winning head coach Jacques Nienaber in the Irish province’s management box.
Nienaber has taken over from another former national head coach, Stuart Lancaster, as Lein ster’s senior coach and winning the Champions Cup for the first time since 2018 – th...