Leinster hold off La Rochelle fightback in breathless Champions Cup clash

The win leaves Leinster in pole position to top their pool and claim home advantage through the tournament knockout stages.

CRUCIAL: Leinster's Joe McCarthy celebrates scoring a first half try in Champions Cup against La Rochelle. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Champions Cup: La Rochelle 14 Leinster 16 

Very few teams have sacked La Rochelle’s fortress in recent years. Leinster have now done it twice in 13 months, but this was a brutally tough and absorbing Champions Cup pool tie that could have swung either way.