Antoine Hastoy had late game-winning attempts for Ronan O’Gara’s side.
A NIGHTMARE FINAL four minutes for La Rochelle out-half Antoine Hastoy was Leinster ’s delight at the end of a brilliant game of rugby.
The Irish province’s steely defensive effort in the first quarter was key to winning, as they scrambled as energetically as ever and brought the kind of punch in contact that Jacques Nienebar demands. Ronan O’Gara’s men will rue their inability to take chances early in the game and in that dramatic endgame but Leinster were worthy winners.La Rochelle had dominated the first quarter in terms of possession and territory, opening the scoring after four minutes when Hastoy fired over a penalty to punish the Leinster defence for jumping offside.
They turned the five-metre scrum into a penalty, opted for another scrum but Leinster were up to the defensive challenge on their own tryline. There was another penalty concession, La Rochelle going into the corner that time, but eventually Jamison Gibson-Park and van der Flier counter-rucked strongly to force a side entry against Oscar Jegou.
La Rochelle’s fans thought they might have responded within a couple of minutes when Hastoy picked up a bobbling ball in his own 22 and ran the length but the TMO review showed that Nowell had knocked on Prendergast’s pass just before. With Rabah Slimani and RG Snyman sent on, Leinster turned the tide at scrum time for a big 50th-minute surge for penalty advantage before Alldritt’s breakdown infringement gave Prendergast a more central position from which to kick Leinster into a 13-6 lead.
Yet replacement Leinster back row Jack Conan knocked the ball on as it rebounded so further pressure ensued. Cullen’s men were caught offside in defence and from 15 metres out, straight in front, Hastoy kicked his third successful penalty. Leinster managed their initial efforts but Hastoy then fired an excellent cross-field kick to left wing Dillyn Leyds who caught and smoothly nudged a delicate grubber past Leinster sub fullback Ciarán Frawley before calmly regathering and dotting down. It was a stunning finish.
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