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