Leinster: (23) 40 |
Attempt: Rowe (2), Gibson Park, Baird, Sheehan. pen: R. Burn (3) Cons: R. Burn (3) |
La Rochelle: (13) 13 |
Attempt: Penburn pen: Hastoy (2) Cons: Hastoy |
Leinster reached the semi-finals of the Investec Champions Cup with an emphatic victory over La Rochelle.
This is the fourth year in a row that the two teams have met in the knockout stage of the competition, with La Rochelle winning each of the past three years.
But Leinster never conceded this time, scoring five tries.
The winning team scored just one goal and was unable to score after halftime.
There have been some close games between the two teams in recent years, and it looked like the early rounds would continue this time as well.
Ross Byrne scored the first goal of the day after La Rochelle was ruled offside, but the hosts had to rely on important turnovers from Joe McCarthy and Jordan Larmour to protect their early lead. did not become.
After 17 minutes, Ross Byrne extended his advantage when he sent James Rowe into a clearance on the left. La Rochelle appealed for a forward pass, but referee Carl Dixon ruled it was OK. Byrne's conversion increased Leinster's lead to 10-0.
After scoring a hat-trick against Leicester Tigers at this stadium last weekend, his next goal was at Jamison Gibson Park, where La Rochelle captain Gregory Aldritt took over at scrum-half. I managed to protect it. The visiting team's goal-line defense, which offered little offense throughout the first half until the final moments, will be a real asset.
Byrne and Antoine Hastoy converted penalties, Lowe broke and Gibson Park scored, giving Leinster their second try of the game.
Leinster held a 17-point lead, similar to when the teams met in last year's Champions Cup final.
When Louis Penburn suffered a heavy defeat and the clock ran deep into the red, many in the packed Aviva Stadium wondered if another La Rochelle comeback would unfold. right.
But crucially Leinster scored their first try in a one-sided second half.
Leo Cullen's side used excellent contact handling to get the ball to Ryan Baird, with the flanker breaking tackles from Jack Nowell and Antoine Hastoy on his way to the line.
La Rochelle, who had already lost Dilin Reyes to injury, had Tawera Carr-Barlow taken off on a stretcher in the aftermath of the goal.
Dan Sheehan's goal with 25 minutes remaining seemed to ensure the game was safe against a side who had shown their nerve across the hemisphere after defeating the Stormers in Cape Town in the last 16.
To conclude the match, Lowe scored his second goal and Leinster's fifth when he picked up Robbie Henshaw's cross-kick and deflected it past Jack Nowell.
With the Aviva Stadium unavailable due to preparations for the Europa League final, Leinster will play Northampton Saints at Croke Park, an 82,000-capacity Gaelic Games venue that will host a rugby match for the first time in 14 years. They will play in the semi-finals.
lineup
Leinster: Frawley; Larmore, Henshaw, Osborne, Lowe. Barn, Gibson Park. Porter, Sheehan, Furlong. McCarthy, Jenkins. Baird, Connors, Doris (Capt.).
Replacement: Kelleher, Milne, Araratoa, Moloney, Conan, McGrath, H. Byrne, Van der Flier.
La Rochelle: Leeds; Nowell, Sewteni, Danti, Thomas. Hastoy, Kerr-Barlow. Penburn, Ratu, Atonio. Dillane, Skeleton. Kankoriet, Botia, Aldrit (captain).
Replacement: Respioque, Kaduri, Sclavi, Lavaux, Budegent, Tanga, Iribaren, West.
match official
Referee: K Dixon (English)
TMO: T. Foley (English)