James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Let’s start with Leinster.
Leo Cullen showed his hand on Friday, but was forced into a change yesterday. With Tommy O’Brien forced out through injury, Jordie Barrett now starts at full-back, while Jamie Osborne moves to the wing. Ciarán Frawley has been added to the replacements.
Tadhg Furlong returns from injury, Sam Prendergast starts at 10, and Andrew Porter and RG Snyman are among those on a star-studded bench.
LEINSTER: Jordie Barrett; Jimmy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jamie Osborne; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Cian Healy, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (captain).
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Andrew Porter, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Ciarán Frawley.
9 hrs ago
2:47PM
Team News
And here’s Ronan O’Gara’s selection.
La Rochelle are missing several players due to injury and suspension, but still field a strong selection.
Fullback Brice Dulin will be key to their kicking game, while Antoine Hastoy is their starting out-half. Former Connacht man Ultan Dillane is on the bench.
STADE ROCHELAIS: Brice Dulin; Jack Nowell, Ulupano Seuteni, Jules Favre, Dillyn Leyds; Antoine Hastoy, Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Reda Wardi, Quentin Lespiaucq, Uini Atonio; Thomas Lavault, Kane Douglas; Paul Boudehent, Oscar Jegou, Grégory Alldritt (captain).
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Nika Amashukeli of Georgia is the man in the middle today.
He refereed Ireland versus England in the Six Nations last year, and has plenty of experience from the Champions Cup to the World Cup and everything in between.
Amashukeli should have a busy day if the brutal battle expected unfolds.
8 hrs ago
2:57PM
Pre-Match Reading
There’s no shortage of coverage on The 42, including Murray Kinsella’s preview and Ciarán Kennedy’s brilliant profile of Sam Prendergast.
“La Rochelle is a beautiful place but this should be a brutal battle,” writes Kinsella from the ground in France.
You can read Murray Kinsella’s match preview here>
And here’s a snippet from the Prendergast piece.
“Everybody thought he was going to make it in soccer, he was just so gifted. But the big heartbreak for us was he was a gifted GAA player. He played corner forward but as a young fella you always had him out center forward, you’d have him in the middle of it. You wouldn’t be hiding him up the front at all.
“You know the way you see some of the real skilful Dublin players and as they run they just rise the ball before they bend down and pick it up? He was able to do that at about 10 years of age and people would be going, ‘Jesus, who’s the little blonde lad?’”
Read Ciarán Kennedy’s Sam Prendergast profile in full here>
La Rochelle’s Head Coach Ronan O’Gara with Leinster Senior Coach Jacques Nienabar, Contact Skills Coach Sean O’Brien and Assistant Coach Tyler Bleyendaal. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Just a note that TV coverage on Premier Sports 1 has been delayed due to Tottenham and Tamworth’s FA Cup clash going to extra-time.
Five minutes or so to go there, the rugby kicks off at 3.15pm.
8 hrs ago
3:10PM
Five minutes to go. Time to call it.
Poll Results:
Leinster win (139)
La Rochelle win (45)
Draw (7)
8 hrs ago
3:16PM
KICK-OFF!
Antoine Hastoy gets us underway at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
8 hrs ago
3:19PM
La Rochelle 0-0 Leinster
2 mins – Early over and back, Leinster put on the early pressure. La Rochelle retain their line-out deep in their own half and eventually clear their lines. Jimmy O’Brien thinks he has caught the kick before it hits touch, but is deemed not to have.
8 hrs ago
3:20PM
La Rochelle 0-0 Leinster
4 mins – La Rochelle on the front foot now, forcing Leinster to put in some tackles. Early penalty for a Leinster offside, Hastoy calls for the tee.
8 hrs ago
3:21PM
La Rochelle 3-0 Leinster
4 mins – Hastoy nails the kick from wide right, and the hosts are off the mark.
8 hrs ago
3:26PM
La Rochelle 3-0 Leinster
8 mins – Leinster move through some phases, but La Rochelle eventually win a crucial turnover to stop them in their tracks. Big hit from Uini Atonio on Jordie Barrett, and Grégory Alldritt moves in.
They’ve settled in a little quicker and Leinster look in trouble, but their scramble defence steps up to win the turnover and scrum. They keep the ball in hand and exit, but Jimmy O’Brien’s kick up the line goes straight to a La Rochelle player.
8 hrs ago
3:27PM
La Rochelle 3-0 Leinster
10 mins – Leinster penalty in the middle of the field, Sam Prendergast is going to go for the posts.
8 hrs ago
3:28PM
La Rochelle 3-3 Leinster
11 mins – Predergast comfortably converts. “A quality kick,” says Ian Madigan on commentary. All square.
8 hrs ago
3:31PM
La Rochelle 3-3 Leinster
13 mins – Prendergast is blocked down by Tawera Kerr-Barlow near his own endline as he looks to clear, with Leinster now under immense pressure. After advantage is accrued after a Jordie Barrett knock-on, La Rochelle eventually force Leinster over their own endline. 5m scrum time, big moment here.
8 hrs ago
3:35PM
La Rochelle 3-3 Leinster
17 mins – After two botched scrums, La Rochelle move through the phases at the third attempt. Leinster’s defence stands strong as they drive them out, but they’ve coughed up a 5m penalty. To touch, La Rochelle go.
8 hrs ago
3:37PM
La Rochelle 3-3 Leinster
20 mins – Huge boost for Leinster, Jamison Gibson-Park with a big turnover after a huge defensive effort to keep La Rochelle out.
Andrew Porter is on for Cian Healy.
8 hrs ago
3:39PM
La Rochelle 3-3 Leinster
21 mins – Brice Dulin ends a sequence of over-and-back kicking as he finds touch with a brilliant kick, not far off a 50:22.
Uini Atonio is down receiving treatment, Leinster huddling as we await the restart.
8 hrs ago
3:42PM
La Rochelle 3-3 Leinster
22 mins – La Rochelle work the ball from the line-out quickly across the field, and they look like they might cause damage, but Leinster outnumber the home wing and Caelan Doris rips the ball. Brilliant steal.
8 hrs ago
3:45PM
La Rochelle 3-3 Leinster
24 mins – This game really is being played in Leinster’s 22, Ronan O’Gara’s side continuing to pile on the pressure. They need to make it count on the scoreboard, though.
They have a penalty here — Robbie Henshaw got stuck on the wrong side of a tackle, it seems — and Hastoy looks towards the posts again.
8 hrs ago
3:45PM
La Rochelle 6-3 Leinster
25 mins – Hastoy splits the posts, and La Rochelle take the lead once more.
8 hrs ago
3:49PM
La Rochelle 6-3 Leinster
28 mins – Leinster’s first really opportunity as Ryan Baird makes a big break, but the usually-accurate Gibson-Park overcooks his cross-field kick. He’ll be disappointed with that one. Although shaky, La Rochelle win their line-out and clear their lines.
Leinster penalty for Quentin Lespiaucq’s high tackle on Henshaw. Prendergast finds touch, and Leinster are on the march.
8 hrs ago
3:49PM
TRY! La Rochelle 6-8 Leinster (Joe McCarthy, 29)
Leinster spark to life, and that’s a big blow for La Rochelle.
Superb try – Baird passes inside to Osborne, who pirouettes to avoid an Antonie tackle and send McCarthy through. Big Joe crashes over!
8 hrs ago
3:51PM
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
30 mins – Prendergast adds the extras, with Leinster now in front for the first time this afternoon.
7 hrs ago
3:57PM
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
35 mins – Hastoy thought he had scored an amazing breakaway, length-of-the-field try, but the TMO chalks it off. There appeared to be a knock-on block just before the La Rochelle 10 broke, while the referee awarded Leinster a penalty for offside.
Hectic few minutes, with Leinster awakening from their slumber and roaring into the contest. Georges-Henri Colombe, meanwhile, has replaced an injured Antonio for La Rochelle.
7 hrs ago
4:01PM
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
38 mins – Plenty going on: Leinster turned over, La Rochelle knock on in contact, Porter penalised in the scrum around the middle. La Rochelle kick for the corner, and have a big attacking platform before half time.
Another La Rochelle injury, as Reda Wardi is forced off and U20 French international Alexandre Kaddouri comes in.
7 hrs ago
4:03PM
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
39 mins – La Rochelle botch the opportunity, mix-up in communication of the line-out and that’s a big let off for Leinster. Nothing comes off the scrum, that should be that.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
7 hrs ago
4:09PM
Leinster lead 10-6 at half time at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
Antoine Hastoy (two) and Sam Prendergast exchanged penalties early on, with La Rochelle moving into the ascendency on territory and possession.
Leinster’s defence stood firm, and Joe McCarthy took their one big opportunity just before the half-hour mark. Prendergast converted, and Leo Cullen’s men will be happy to be in front.
Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle, meanwhile, will be extremely disappointed not to have more to show for their efforts, while they’ve been hit with a couple of big injures.
All to play for in the second half!
7 hrs ago
4:10PM
Absolutely cracking game of rugby!
Leinster with some massive defence in face of serious La Rochelle pressure, then take attacking chance with brilliant lineout strike try.
Sam Prendergast gets us underway once again. Leinster leading 10-6.
7 hrs ago
4:20PM
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
41 mins – Rare error from Brice Dulin as he knocks on under pressure from Barrett. Scrum Leinster just outside the ’22.
Ultan Dillane came in for Thomas Lavault for La Rochelle at half time.
7 hrs ago
4:23PM
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
43 mins – Frustrations for Leinster early in the second half as Furlong drops the ball and La Rochelle have moved onto the front foot once again.
Leinster stop them in their tracks, some argy-bargy follows and Doris’ scrum cap is pulled off him.
7 hrs ago
4:24PM
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
44 mins – Georges-Henri Colombe is penalised for pulling the scrum cap off Doris as the referee warns both sides to calm down after the second scuffle of the day. Leinster clear their lines.
7 hrs ago
4:29PM
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
47 mins – La Rochelle cough up another penalty tight to the right touch line, and Prendergast drives it 45m or so to gain much-needed territory for Leinster. The La Rochelle line-out malfunctions and Leinster have an opportunity to pounce, but they’re not just as crisp and clean in possession as expected and lose the ball at the breakdown.
Some changes: Jack Conan, RG Snyman and Rabah Slimani are in for Baird, McCarthy and Furlong, while Thomas Lavault returns to play after a HIA.
7 hrs ago
4:30PM
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
49 mins – Leinster penalty for offside, chance for Prendergast to extend their lead.
7 hrs ago
4:31PM
La Rochelle 6-13 Leinster
50 mins – Prendergast nails a relatively straightforward kick, and Leinster lead by seven.
Leinster's Jamison Gibson-Park. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
7 hrs ago
4:35PM
La Rochelle 6-13 Leinster
53 mins – Leinster free kick out around the middle as La Rochelle are penalised in the scum. Prendergast’s air-borne kick doesn’t initially trouble La Rochelle, but suddenly, they are on the attack. La Rochelle defend well as Leinster retreat, but they give up a penalty for an infringement. The crowd aren’t happy.
7 hrs ago
4:36PM
La Rochelle 6-16 Leinster
54 mins – Prendergast holds his nerve amidst the noise to put Leinster 10 up.
7 hrs ago
4:38PM
La Rochelle 6-16 Leinster
57 mins – Leinster make a bit of a mess of the restart, and are then penalised for popping up in a scrum around the middle.
Hastoy’s penalty hits the post! Leinster are deemed to knock on having reclaimed the ball, so the La Rochelle threat remains alive.
7 hrs ago
4:41PM
La Rochelle 6-16 Leinster
58 mins – La Rochelle get away at the second scrum attempt and look to pile on the pressure, Georges-Henri Colombe among those prominent. Advantage accrued, but we eventually go back to the penalty for offside. The hosts are going for the posts, should be an easy three-pointer.
7 hrs ago
4:42PM
La Rochelle 9-16 Leinster
60 mins – No mistake from Hastoy this time. La Rochelle back within seven.
7 hrs ago
4:44PM
La Rochelle 9-16 Leinster
62 mins – Ciarán Frawley comes in for Prendergast. Hastoy was down injured after a big hit from Ringrose, but much to the delight of his home crowd, is now back on his hit. Big few minutes here, you would feel.
7 hrs ago
4:49PM
La Rochelle 9-16 Leinster
64 mins – La Rochelle look like they smell blood, but Leinster turn them over. Doris with another huge steal, this time on Seuteni. Osborne overcooks his clearance.
La Rochelle forced into another change through injury, Matthias Haddad next off the bench for Judicael Cancoriet. The hosts come again, Ringrose and Kelleher among those doing their utmost to combat.
7 hrs ago
4:50PM
TRY! La Rochelle 14-16 Leinster (Dillyn Leyds, 66)
Wow, what a try! Apologies, amidst the excitement I gave it to UJ Seuteni. It was indeed Dillyn Leyds.
Scintillating stuff. An outrageous cross-field kick from Hastoy, Leyds claims and dinks past Frawley, under pressure, before crashing over. He arrows in celebration. They love it!
No conversion.
6 hrs ago
4:54PM
La Rochelle 14-16 Leinster
68 mins – Missed penalty! Big chance for Ross Byrne as La Rochelle are penalised on the restart, but he fluffs his lines. It remains a two-point game.
6 hrs ago
4:55PM
La Rochelle 14-16 Leinster
70 mins – Leinster have been on the front foot, but La Rochelle turn them over in their own half!
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
6 hrs ago
5:15PM
What. A. Game.
La Rochelle left crestfallen, Leinster survive.
Incredible, incredible drama. Leo Cullen’s men do just enough to take the win, Joe McCarthy’s first-half try and Sam Prendergast’s kicking key. And what incredible defences from both sides.
Brilliant stuff. Murray Kinsella’s match report from Stade Marcel-Deflandre will be on The 42 imminently, with much more reaction, analysis and colour to follow.
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As it happened: La Rochelle v Leinster, Champions Cup
Hello, and welcome along to The 42’s live coverage of this afternoon’s blockbuster Champions Cup clash between La Rochelle and Leinster.
The rivalry continues at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
Kick-off is 3.15pm Irish time, with the game live on Premier Sports 1.
We’ll have all the updates you need right here. Stay with us!
Team News
Let’s start with Leinster.
Leo Cullen showed his hand on Friday, but was forced into a change yesterday. With Tommy O’Brien forced out through injury, Jordie Barrett now starts at full-back, while Jamie Osborne moves to the wing. Ciarán Frawley has been added to the replacements.
Tadhg Furlong returns from injury, Sam Prendergast starts at 10, and Andrew Porter and RG Snyman are among those on a star-studded bench.
LEINSTER: Jordie Barrett; Jimmy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jamie Osborne; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Cian Healy, Rónan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (captain).
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Andrew Porter, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Ciarán Frawley.
Team News
And here’s Ronan O’Gara’s selection.
La Rochelle are missing several players due to injury and suspension, but still field a strong selection.
Fullback Brice Dulin will be key to their kicking game, while Antoine Hastoy is their starting out-half. Former Connacht man Ultan Dillane is on the bench.
STADE ROCHELAIS: Brice Dulin; Jack Nowell, Ulupano Seuteni, Jules Favre, Dillyn Leyds; Antoine Hastoy, Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Reda Wardi, Quentin Lespiaucq, Uini Atonio; Thomas Lavault, Kane Douglas; Paul Boudehent, Oscar Jegou, Grégory Alldritt (captain).
Replacements: Nikoloz Sutidze, Alexandre Kaddouri, Georges-Henri Colombe, Ultan Dillane, Levani Botia, Judicaël Cancoriet, Matthias Haddad, Hoani Bosmorin.
Ref Watch
Nika Amashukeli of Georgia is the man in the middle today.
He refereed Ireland versus England in the Six Nations last year, and has plenty of experience from the Champions Cup to the World Cup and everything in between.
Amashukeli should have a busy day if the brutal battle expected unfolds.
Pre-Match Reading
There’s no shortage of coverage on The 42, including Murray Kinsella’s preview and Ciarán Kennedy’s brilliant profile of Sam Prendergast.
“La Rochelle is a beautiful place but this should be a brutal battle,” writes Kinsella from the ground in France.
And here’s a snippet from the Prendergast piece.
“Everybody thought he was going to make it in soccer, he was just so gifted. But the big heartbreak for us was he was a gifted GAA player. He played corner forward but as a young fella you always had him out center forward, you’d have him in the middle of it. You wouldn’t be hiding him up the front at all.
“You know the way you see some of the real skilful Dublin players and as they run they just rise the ball before they bend down and pick it up? He was able to do that at about 10 years of age and people would be going, ‘Jesus, who’s the little blonde lad?’”
Some dispatches from Murray in La Rochelle:
Follow him on X @Murray_Kinsella for more.
Just a note that TV coverage on Premier Sports 1 has been delayed due to Tottenham and Tamworth’s FA Cup clash going to extra-time.
Five minutes or so to go there, the rugby kicks off at 3.15pm.
Five minutes to go. Time to call it.
Poll Results:
KICK-OFF!
Antoine Hastoy gets us underway at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
La Rochelle 0-0 Leinster
2 mins – Early over and back, Leinster put on the early pressure. La Rochelle retain their line-out deep in their own half and eventually clear their lines. Jimmy O’Brien thinks he has caught the kick before it hits touch, but is deemed not to have.
La Rochelle 0-0 Leinster
4 mins – La Rochelle on the front foot now, forcing Leinster to put in some tackles. Early penalty for a Leinster offside, Hastoy calls for the tee.
La Rochelle 3-0 Leinster
4 mins – Hastoy nails the kick from wide right, and the hosts are off the mark.
La Rochelle 3-0 Leinster
8 mins – Leinster move through some phases, but La Rochelle eventually win a crucial turnover to stop them in their tracks. Big hit from Uini Atonio on Jordie Barrett, and Grégory Alldritt moves in.
They’ve settled in a little quicker and Leinster look in trouble, but their scramble defence steps up to win the turnover and scrum. They keep the ball in hand and exit, but Jimmy O’Brien’s kick up the line goes straight to a La Rochelle player.
La Rochelle 3-0 Leinster
10 mins – Leinster penalty in the middle of the field, Sam Prendergast is going to go for the posts.
La Rochelle 3-3 Leinster
11 mins – Predergast comfortably converts. “A quality kick,” says Ian Madigan on commentary. All square.
La Rochelle 3-3 Leinster
13 mins – Prendergast is blocked down by Tawera Kerr-Barlow near his own endline as he looks to clear, with Leinster now under immense pressure. After advantage is accrued after a Jordie Barrett knock-on, La Rochelle eventually force Leinster over their own endline. 5m scrum time, big moment here.
La Rochelle 3-3 Leinster
17 mins – After two botched scrums, La Rochelle move through the phases at the third attempt. Leinster’s defence stands strong as they drive them out, but they’ve coughed up a 5m penalty. To touch, La Rochelle go.
La Rochelle 3-3 Leinster
20 mins – Huge boost for Leinster, Jamison Gibson-Park with a big turnover after a huge defensive effort to keep La Rochelle out.
Andrew Porter is on for Cian Healy.
La Rochelle 3-3 Leinster
21 mins – Brice Dulin ends a sequence of over-and-back kicking as he finds touch with a brilliant kick, not far off a 50:22.
Uini Atonio is down receiving treatment, Leinster huddling as we await the restart.
La Rochelle 3-3 Leinster
22 mins – La Rochelle work the ball from the line-out quickly across the field, and they look like they might cause damage, but Leinster outnumber the home wing and Caelan Doris rips the ball. Brilliant steal.
La Rochelle 3-3 Leinster
24 mins – This game really is being played in Leinster’s 22, Ronan O’Gara’s side continuing to pile on the pressure. They need to make it count on the scoreboard, though.
They have a penalty here — Robbie Henshaw got stuck on the wrong side of a tackle, it seems — and Hastoy looks towards the posts again.
La Rochelle 6-3 Leinster
25 mins – Hastoy splits the posts, and La Rochelle take the lead once more.
La Rochelle 6-3 Leinster
28 mins – Leinster’s first really opportunity as Ryan Baird makes a big break, but the usually-accurate Gibson-Park overcooks his cross-field kick. He’ll be disappointed with that one. Although shaky, La Rochelle win their line-out and clear their lines.
Leinster penalty for Quentin Lespiaucq’s high tackle on Henshaw. Prendergast finds touch, and Leinster are on the march.
TRY! La Rochelle 6-8 Leinster (Joe McCarthy, 29)
Leinster spark to life, and that’s a big blow for La Rochelle.
Superb try – Baird passes inside to Osborne, who pirouettes to avoid an Antonie tackle and send McCarthy through. Big Joe crashes over!
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
30 mins – Prendergast adds the extras, with Leinster now in front for the first time this afternoon.
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
35 mins – Hastoy thought he had scored an amazing breakaway, length-of-the-field try, but the TMO chalks it off. There appeared to be a knock-on block just before the La Rochelle 10 broke, while the referee awarded Leinster a penalty for offside.
Hectic few minutes, with Leinster awakening from their slumber and roaring into the contest. Georges-Henri Colombe, meanwhile, has replaced an injured Antonio for La Rochelle.
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
38 mins – Plenty going on: Leinster turned over, La Rochelle knock on in contact, Porter penalised in the scrum around the middle. La Rochelle kick for the corner, and have a big attacking platform before half time.
Another La Rochelle injury, as Reda Wardi is forced off and U20 French international Alexandre Kaddouri comes in.
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
39 mins – La Rochelle botch the opportunity, mix-up in communication of the line-out and that’s a big let off for Leinster. Nothing comes off the scrum, that should be that.
HALF TIME: La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
Leinster lead 10-6 at half time at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
Antoine Hastoy (two) and Sam Prendergast exchanged penalties early on, with La Rochelle moving into the ascendency on territory and possession.
Leinster’s defence stood firm, and Joe McCarthy took their one big opportunity just before the half-hour mark. Prendergast converted, and Leo Cullen’s men will be happy to be in front.
Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle, meanwhile, will be extremely disappointed not to have more to show for their efforts, while they’ve been hit with a couple of big injures.
All to play for in the second half!
Here’s a look at the only try of the game so far:
SECOND HALF!
Sam Prendergast gets us underway once again. Leinster leading 10-6.
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
41 mins – Rare error from Brice Dulin as he knocks on under pressure from Barrett. Scrum Leinster just outside the ’22.
Ultan Dillane came in for Thomas Lavault for La Rochelle at half time.
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
43 mins – Frustrations for Leinster early in the second half as Furlong drops the ball and La Rochelle have moved onto the front foot once again.
Leinster stop them in their tracks, some argy-bargy follows and Doris’ scrum cap is pulled off him.
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
44 mins – Georges-Henri Colombe is penalised for pulling the scrum cap off Doris as the referee warns both sides to calm down after the second scuffle of the day. Leinster clear their lines.
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
47 mins – La Rochelle cough up another penalty tight to the right touch line, and Prendergast drives it 45m or so to gain much-needed territory for Leinster. The La Rochelle line-out malfunctions and Leinster have an opportunity to pounce, but they’re not just as crisp and clean in possession as expected and lose the ball at the breakdown.
Some changes: Jack Conan, RG Snyman and Rabah Slimani are in for Baird, McCarthy and Furlong, while Thomas Lavault returns to play after a HIA.
La Rochelle 6-10 Leinster
49 mins – Leinster penalty for offside, chance for Prendergast to extend their lead.
La Rochelle 6-13 Leinster
50 mins – Prendergast nails a relatively straightforward kick, and Leinster lead by seven.
La Rochelle 6-13 Leinster
53 mins – Leinster free kick out around the middle as La Rochelle are penalised in the scum. Prendergast’s air-borne kick doesn’t initially trouble La Rochelle, but suddenly, they are on the attack. La Rochelle defend well as Leinster retreat, but they give up a penalty for an infringement. The crowd aren’t happy.
La Rochelle 6-16 Leinster
54 mins – Prendergast holds his nerve amidst the noise to put Leinster 10 up.
La Rochelle 6-16 Leinster
57 mins – Leinster make a bit of a mess of the restart, and are then penalised for popping up in a scrum around the middle.
Hastoy’s penalty hits the post! Leinster are deemed to knock on having reclaimed the ball, so the La Rochelle threat remains alive.
La Rochelle 6-16 Leinster
58 mins – La Rochelle get away at the second scrum attempt and look to pile on the pressure, Georges-Henri Colombe among those prominent. Advantage accrued, but we eventually go back to the penalty for offside. The hosts are going for the posts, should be an easy three-pointer.
La Rochelle 9-16 Leinster
60 mins – No mistake from Hastoy this time. La Rochelle back within seven.
La Rochelle 9-16 Leinster
62 mins – Ciarán Frawley comes in for Prendergast. Hastoy was down injured after a big hit from Ringrose, but much to the delight of his home crowd, is now back on his hit. Big few minutes here, you would feel.
La Rochelle 9-16 Leinster
64 mins – La Rochelle look like they smell blood, but Leinster turn them over. Doris with another huge steal, this time on Seuteni. Osborne overcooks his clearance.
La Rochelle forced into another change through injury, Matthias Haddad next off the bench for Judicael Cancoriet. The hosts come again, Ringrose and Kelleher among those doing their utmost to combat.
TRY! La Rochelle 14-16 Leinster (Dillyn Leyds, 66)
Wow, what a try! Apologies, amidst the excitement I gave it to UJ Seuteni. It was indeed Dillyn Leyds.
Scintillating stuff. An outrageous cross-field kick from Hastoy, Leyds claims and dinks past Frawley, under pressure, before crashing over. He arrows in celebration. They love it!
No conversion.
La Rochelle 14-16 Leinster
68 mins – Missed penalty! Big chance for Ross Byrne as La Rochelle are penalised on the restart, but he fluffs his lines. It remains a two-point game.
La Rochelle 14-16 Leinster
70 mins – Leinster have been on the front foot, but La Rochelle turn them over in their own half!
A HUGE 10 minutes to go, anything could happen.
Here’s that La Rochelle try:
La Rochelle 14-16 Leinster
72 mins – Turnover after turnover. This game is there for the taking, who wants it more?
Luke McGrath is in for Gibson-Park, Gus McCarthy replaces Kelleher.
La Rochelle 14-16 Leinster
74 mins – La Rochelle in possession here, but there’s too much on Hastoy’s cross-field pass for Matthias Haddad.
Errors follow, Leinster eventually win a penalty and call for the shot. Barrett stands over it, wide right.
La Rochelle 14-16 Leinster
75 mins – WIDE. Barrett pulls the penalty left and wide.
Again, it stays a two-point game. Five minutes or so to go.
La Rochelle 14-16 Leinster
77 mins – This is a dogfight, a cracking finale, as Ryle Nugent has said on commentary.
La Rochelle have possession and momentum, can Leicester hold on?
La Rochelle 14-16 Leinster
Penalty La Rochelle! Think it was against Luke McGrath. Discussion here as they weigh up their options. Hastoy is going to have a go at the posts…
Less than two minutes to go.
Oh, TMO first…
They’re looking at a Doris challenge.
Deemed accidental, legal tackle. Penalty stays.
La Rochelle trail by two, just over a minute to go as Hastoy stands over a penalty.
NO SCORE! But La Rochelle have the ball!
La Rochelle 14-16 Leinster.
Scrum time. Seconds to go. What a dramatic endgame.
JVDF blocks a drop-kick attempt! La Rochelle still have the ball!
They still have it… 82 mins on the clock, La Rochelle two points down.
Penalty Leinster, forward pass. Sin é!
FULL TIME: La Rochelle 14-16 Leinster
What. A. Game.
La Rochelle left crestfallen, Leinster survive.
Incredible, incredible drama. Leo Cullen’s men do just enough to take the win, Joe McCarthy’s first-half try and Sam Prendergast’s kicking key. And what incredible defences from both sides.
Brilliant stuff. Murray Kinsella’s match report from Stade Marcel-Deflandre will be on The 42 imminently, with much more reaction, analysis and colour to follow.
Thanks for joining me. Take it easy!
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Champions Cup la rochelle Leinster Rugby Updates