Leinster 40-13 La Rochelle - Irish giants beat holders to power into Investec Champions Cup semi-finals

Leinster finally did it. After losing a semi-final and two finals, they managed to beat La Rochelle in an Investec Champions Cup knockout game.

Considering the tense, tight affairs that the four clashes between these two have been, this match was a complete outlier. Perhaps La Rochelle’s world tour, which has taken them from Paris to Cape Town to Cork and then to the Aviva in Dublin, had wiped the energy from them.

But regardless, the pressure Leinster applied on Ronan O’Gara’s side was worthy of a Championship Cup-winning side. They consistently harried La Rochelle in defence and attack and the visitors could not find an answer in the entire 80 minutes.

Leinster rushed out to a 10-0 lead thanks to Ross Byrne’s boot and a try from James Lowe. Byrne and Antoine Hastoy traded penalties for the next 30 minutes, until Jamison Gibson-Park, who scored three tries last weekend, ran in unopposed from 30 metres to bring the score to 23-6.

La Rochelle answered back right before the first half ended with Louis Penverne dotting down after a rare bit of pressure from his side.

But that’s where La Rochelle’s hopes ended. The second half opened with a brilliant try from Ryan Baird just three minutes removed from half-time.

The French outfit did not score a point in the second half as Leinster built their lead up to 40 points. They conceded penalties, made mistakes, and looked completely without rhythm as Leinster controlled and bullied them. Will Skelton and Gregory Alldritt who are usually so influential were stunningly quiet, so much so you forgot they were on the pitch, despite their behemoth stature.

Tries from Dan Sheehan and James Lowe in the 57th and 62nd minutes confirmed a win that looked likely the entire match. And as the match wore on, La Rochelle looked more tired, and less like themselves.

Leinster outplayed them, fully. Gibson-Park ran the show again and was a step ahead constantly. Byrne kicked flawlessly, and the pack finally outmuscled La Rochelle, vanquishing the hex they have had over them for three years.

Leinster head to the semi-final, where they face Northampton Saints who brushed aside Bulls.

It will be interesting to know at what point Jamison Gibson-Park could overtake Antoine Dupont as the world's best scrum-half.

It was an excellent performance from Gibson-Park a week on from his hat-trick against Leicester Tigers. He seemingly played the entire game in slow motion, holding full control of the ball, his players, and always one step ahead of La Rochelle.

He gave lightning-quick service at the rucks. Constantly sniped for space and popped up absolutely everywhere, even grabbing a turnover.

He was integral to Leinster's success, as always. He will be integral in the semi-final and, should they make it, in the final.

Leinster: Porter 7, Sheehan 8, Furlong 7, McCarthy 8, Jenkins 7, Baird 8, Connors 7, Doris 8, Gibson-Park 9, Byrne 8, Lowe 8, Osborne 7, Henshaw 8, Larmour 7, Frawley 7.

Replacements: Kelleher 7, Milne 6, Conan 7, Van Der Flier 7, Byrne 6, McGrath 7,

La Rochelle: Penverne 7, Latu 6, Atonio 6, Dillane 5, Skelton 6, Cancoriet 6, Botia 7, Alldritt 5, Kerr-Barlow 6, Hastoy 6, Thomas 5, Danty 6, Seuteni 7, Nowell 5, Leyds 6.

Replacements: Lespiaucq 6, Lavault 6, Iribaren 5, West 6, Boudehent 6.

18’ TRY! LOWE | LEINSTER 10-0 LA ROCHELLE- An incredible passage of play ends with Lowe darting down in the corner.

38’ TRY! GIBSON-PARK | LEINSTER 23-6 LA ROCHELLE - From nowhere Lowe escapes down the wing, and an offload to Gibson-Park lets the nine run in from 30m out unopposed.

40' TRY! PENVERNE | LEINSTER 23-13 LA ROCHELLE - Pressure pays off and La Rochelle get their try, cutting the lead to 10 once again.

43' TRY! BAIRD | LEINSTER 30-13 LA ROCHELLE - So quick, so smooth. The ball out of the back from Furlong, the pass before the tackle from Larmour, and some seamless deception from Baird to score.

57' TRY! SHEEHAN | LEINSTER 35-13 LA ROCHELLE - With an advantage from a scrum Byrne delivers a long pass to Lowe, who delivers an even longer pass to Sheehan on the wing to dive for Leinster's fourth.

62' TRY! LOWE | LEINSTER 40-13 LA ROCHELLE - A deft kick from Henshaw into La Rochelle's half is recovered by Lowe and despite a challenge from Jack Nowell he touches down in the corner.

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