Donal Lenihan: Ailing Champions Cup well served if gallant La Rochelle and Leinster meet again 

Miraculously, both Leinster and Munster found a way to prevail this weekend

Jamie Osborne of Leinster celebrates at the final whistle of his side's Champions Cup victory against La Rochelle. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

It's a measure of the tense nature of the gargantuan clash when La Rochelle hosted Leinster at the brilliantly atmospheric Stade Marcel-Deflandre that right from the outset, it had all the hallmarks of a knockout contest as opposed to a pool encounter.

After some indifferent form, it was clear Ronan O'Gara’s men had not only brought their A game from the kick off, dominating both territory and possession for the vast majority of the opening half, they also had their homework done and a clear gameplan as to how to succeed where everyone else has failed to date this season, by beating this well-drilled Leinster outfit.