Jacques Nienaber reckons Toulouse clean slate can benefit Leinster

Jacques Nienaber says coming in fresh for the latest installment of the Leinster-Toulouse rivalry may prove useful.

The South African joined Leinster as senior coach in December after spending six years with the Springboks and helping them to two World Cup wins.

While he was in his previous job, four-time Investec Champions Cup winners Leinster met five-time champions Toulouse on five occasions.

Leo Cullen's side won the last four matches, including the last two semi-finals in relatively straightforward fashion: 41-22 in 2023, and 40-17 in 2022.

Their match-up in London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 25 May (2.45pm, live on RTÉ), which organisers EPCR today confirmed has sold-out, will be their 14th meeting but they have never faced off in a final.

"I must say, that’s probably the nice thing for me, I don’t have a big backdrop or big history," Nienaber told RTÉ Sport as Leinster prepare for a BKT URC clash at home to Ospreys on Saturday (7.35pm).

"For me, I know Toulouse are a quality outfit.

"We had players who were there when I was with the Springboks, so they always spoke well about the club and the people there and the rugby programme they run.

"I expect a proper test when we play them but, to be honest, I watched the game [against Harlequins] but I was doing my review, watching it with chameleon eyes, one eye doing the review and one eye [on the game].

"As a coaching group, as a group of players, we’ll get to them and give them the respect they need to get when we have to play them, but the team that needs respect now is Ospreys, 100%."

One player hoping to feature in the final, having missed out on Saturday's semi-final win over Northampton, is Will Connors.

The Ireland flanker started both of this season’s wins over reigning