Duncan Casey: Two bounces of a ball decided the Champions Cup final

It almost feels like lazy analysis to pinpoint this as where the game was won and lost but it’s difficult to argue otherwise

La Rochelle's players celebrate their European Rugby Champions Cup victory during a parade in La Rochelle, southwest France, May 29, 2022, a day after winning the European Rugby Champions Cup final against Leinster. (Photo by Yohan Bonnet / AFP) (Photo by YOHAN BONNET/AFP via Getty Images)

Everyone knows the bounce of a ball can have devastating results. This holds true for virtually every team sport but the oval shape and unpredictability of a rugby ball mean it rings particularly true in our game.

Despite this, it is still rare for the bounce of a ball to completely change the trajectory of a European Cup final and suddenly thrust a team that had been in control for an hour onto the back foot.