Racing coach Labit ready for ‘formidable’ Leinster challenge

Laurent Labit knows Racing 92 will have to produce “something exceptional” to beat Leinster in the European Champions Cup final after getting past Munster on Sunday.

Top 14 title contenders Racing reached their second Champions Cup showdown with a 27-22 victory in Bordeaux, which was more emphatic than the score would suggest.

Teddy Thomas claimed an early double and unselfishly missed out on a hat-trick by tossing the ball back for Maxime Machenaud to add a third try.

Munster showed character to cross three times late on, but they were outplayed by the impressive Paris side.

Racing will face favourites Leinster in a showdown in Bilbao on May 12 and coach Labit says they will have to be at their very best if they are to be crowned European champions for the first time – two years after losing to Saracens in their only previous final.

“Of course, it’s going to be a great challenge,” said Labit.

“We saw it two years ago against Saracens, you don’t get the European title by chance.

“We have to do something exceptional to win it. Leinster will be a formidable opponent, they have three-quarters of the Irish team.”

Congratulations to our finalist – @Racing92.

See you in Bilbao! #Bilbao2018 #ChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/ygGTyjmM6v

— Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 22, 2018

He added: “We did great in the first half [against Munster] in terms of strategy and the attacking game. We will have to do more if we want to be European champions.

“We saw the last 20 minutes were rough and it will be difficult because it will be 80 minutes at that level.

“We will have to be more coherent as a team. The maturity has grown and we know what a final is all about. We lost to Saracens – but we know now.”

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