Outside noise about Champions Cup final irrelevant to Leinster, says Contepomi

Felipe Contepomi insists Leinster will ignore all outside noise as they build up for their Heineken Champions Cup against La Rochelle in two weeks' time.

Some bookmakers have installed the four-time winners as 12-point favorites against Ronan O’Gara’s side, who won 32-23 last season in the semi-final and also got to the final in the Top14.

However, Leinster went to Stade Rochelais last season without Johnny Sexton, Jamison Gibson-Park and Caelan Doris.

The feeling is that Leo Cullen’s side, who handed the reigning European and French champions Toulouse a 40-17 beating have also improved and that La Rochelle stumbled over the line against Racing 92 in the other semi-final.

"We don’t listen much to outside voices, we just listen to ourselves and for us, every game starts at zero-zero," Contepomi told RTÉ Sport.

"It doesn’t matter who it is, it’s not about La Rochelle, it’s not about Toulouse. We know what’s at stake, we are not going to take it lightly or be complacent.

"It’s a Champions Cup final, you don’t do that, Leinster don’t do that.

"Our standards are so high I find it a bit weird that you ask me that. Seriously, I wouldn’t even think that anyone would think Leinster would take a Champions Cup final lightly or we’d underestimate [an opponent].

"You know it’s hard to get to a Champions Cup final and these guys did it twice in consecutive years so they are showing they are dominating Europe.

"If you ask the bookies, they can say whatever they want to say. But they finished ahead of us in the pool stages, they had home advantage and suddenly they are in the final and they are playing a great brand of rugby.

"Don’t worry about Leinster underestimating La Rochelle at all. I don’t care what bookies say or what people outside this