La Rochelle pull off historic comeback win in 27-26 Champions Cup final victory over Leinster
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Updated 20/05/2023 at 18:06 GMT
Leinster's wait for a historic fifth European title will go on for another year at least after La Rochelle's scarcely believable comeback in Dublin. The reigning champions were dead and buried at 17-0 down after 12 minutes, but stormed home to win a heart-stopper 27-26. The champions trailed for 71 minutes, but pulled into the lead when it counted, holding on for a second title in two years.
France's wheelchair rugby team at the 'start of something special'
La Rochelle beat Leinster 27-26 in a heroic Champions Cup final comeback to seal back-to-back European titles.
In a rematch of last year's final, the Irish side got off to a dream start at Dublin's Aviva Park.
In the first minute, Dan Sheehan shovelled a pass to Jack Conan and collected the return ball before diving over to score. Ross Byrne kicked the conversion and it was 7-0 after the fastest try ever scored in a Champions Cup final.
Five minutes later Leinster were over again, Champagne rugby from the Irish side allowing Jimmy O'Brien to touch down in the corner.
Already reeling, La Rochelle took another hammer blow in the 11th minute when Tawera Kerr-Barlow was sin binned for an early tackle on Leinster fly half Jamison Gibson-Park.
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France's wheelchair rugby team at the 'start of something special'
Gibson-Park was centre stage again one minute later when his offload found Sheehan who zipped over for his second try of the afternoon.
At 17-0, Leinster were comfortably outpacing the number of minutes played.
The French struck back in the 20th minute when Jonathan Danty sliced through from a scrum win and Antoine Hastoy kicked the conversion to make it 17-7.
Back-to-back Byrne penalties extended Leinster's lead to 16 points but La Rochelle besieged their line as half-time approached.
The champions got their reward in the 38th minute when Samoa centre Ulupano Seuteni slid in. Another Hastoy conversion narrowed the gap to 23-14 at the interval.
The second period saw things tighten up somewhat as both sides swapped penalties. Two for Hastory and one for Byrne made it 26-20.
With eight minutes to play, Georges-Henri Colombe powered over to give the champions the lead for the first time.
Leinster also lost substitute hooker Ronan Kelleher for an offence in the build-up to the try.
The rematch of 2022's final between these two sides was turning into a replay, but Leinster still had time to hit back.
With Leinster on the attack, Danty was shown a yellow card of his own.
The final six minutes would play out with both sides down a man, at least.
The clock was stopped in the 78th minute when Colombe Reazel was felled by Michael Ala'alatoa. When play resumed, only 90 seconds stood between the reigning champions and their second consecutive title.
Leinster's desperation to win back the ball from the ensuing lineout saw another penalty go the way of the French side. With time ticking away, the ball was booted out of play and the final whistle sounded.
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