Leo Cullen happy with Leinster 'balance' ahead of final

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen admits he was forced into some tough decisions with his squad ahead of tomorrow's Investec Champions Cup final against Toulouse, but believes he has struck the right balance for the decider at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Cullen's matchday squad has been built off the same blueprints as their quarter-final win over defending champions La Rochelle last month, with Will Connors preferred to Josh van der Flier in the starting side, and Jason Jenkins picked ahead of James Ryan in the pack.

Crucially, the Leinster coach has kept both Van der Flier and Ryan among the replacements, where he has gone for a 6:2 split, with Luke McGrath and Ciarán Frawley the two backline subs.

Ross Molony, Jimmy O'Brien and Harry Byrne are among those who have missed out on the squad as a result of those selections.

"There have been a few of those [tough] conversations this week," Cullen admitted at his pre-match press conference in London this afternoon.

"Ross Molony, in that instance, is incredibly unlucky because he's been brilliant for the team over the course of the season and in previous seasons as well.

"A few guys are incredibly unlucky to miss out but we think we have a strong 23 there, who will hopefully represent everybody well.

"Some tight calls in terms of the team, but that’s the nature of the competitive squad we have."

Ryan is included for his first appearance of the knock-out stages, having returned from an arm injury a week ago against Ulster. Hugo Keenan also missed the quarter and semi-final victories with a hip issue, but is fit enough to start at full-back.

"I think we've a good balance there.

"Hugo [Keenan] got through the game last week, so did James [Ryan], great to have James back.

"I guess from some of