Brave Leinster 3-10 to remain Europe's finest

LEINSTER are 3-10 favourites with Boylesports to lift the Heineken Cup for an unprecedented third time in four yearsafter Sunday’s 19-15 semi-final win over Clermont in Bordeaux set up an all-Irish final against Ulster at Twickenham on May 19.

The holders were 5-1 favourites pre-tournament, while 11-4 shots Ulster, winners in 1999, were 66-1.

And intriguingly they met in Belfast last weekend in the Pro12 when a near full-strength Leinster side won 16-8 and all but ended Ulster's hopes of reaching the play-offs.

Now Ulster need to win with a try-bonus at Munster and hope for a defeat for Glasgow at home to Connacht and a draw or better for Cardiff Blues when they visit the Scarlets. Both are unlikely scenarios so coach Brian McLaughlin could well mix-up his team and bench at Thomond Park.

Leinster, who missed out on the double last year when beaten by Munster the Saturday after stunning Northampton with their second-half comeback in Cardiff, are already in the play-offs having romped to top spot in the regular season table.

Jonny Wilkinson's Toulon are 8-13 with Ladbrokes to win the Challenge Cup, the final of which is an all-French affair against Biarritz at the Stoop on the Friday night. The Basque outfit are 6-4 with Coral to prevail.