Ronan O'Gara's defensive revolution takes down Leinster's aristocrats

La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara: Led his side to the Heineken Champions Cup final with this win over Leinster. Picture: Julien Poupart/Sportsfile

Leinster’s regrets will be many, though far from uniform.

Though bullied up front as the day went on, it was their inability to make more hay while they dominated in the La Rochelle sun that irritated Leo Cullen most, the hosts’ difficulties in that opening stretch summed up by the regularity with which Dillyn Leyds lost a dropping ball in the blinding rays.