Postpublished at 74 mins
Leinster 21-17 La Rochelle
Penalty advantage to La Rochelle.
They can spin wide without risk...
Summary
Leinster denied record-equalling fifth European Cup by late La Rochelle try
Coach Ronan O'Gara leads La Rochelle to their first Champions Cup triumph
Arthur Retiere goes over in 79th minute to snatch victory in Marseille
Six Johnny Sexton penalties gave Leinster 18-10 lead in second half
Pierre Bourgarit cut the deficit but then Thomas Lavault was sin-binned
However, O'Gara's side rallied superbly to triumph at Stade Velodrome
Postpublished at 74 mins
Postpublished at 74 mins
Leinster 21-17 La Rochelle
La Rochelle are two metres short. The heavy artillery rolling round the corner...
Postpublished at 73 mins
Leinster 21-17 La Rochelle
The scrum wheels. The ball is stuck somewhere in that whirlpool.
Wayne Barnes calls for a reset.
Leinster fans chewing nails down to dust in the stands.
La Rochelle 10 metres out.
Postpublished at 72 mins
Leinster 21-17 La Rochelle
Levani Botia is on in the centres for La Rochelle.
Another penalty conceded by Leinster. Are we getting close to the penalty try?
La Rochelle opt for a scrum rather than a kick for the sticks or corner.
They have been dominant in the set-piece.
Big monent, big call.
Postpublished at 70 mins
Leinster 21-17 La Rochelle
Leinster keep out La Rochelle but at the expense of a penalty.
The Top 14 side, four points down and a man in the bin, go to the corner once again.
Postpublished at 68 mins
Leinster 21-17 La Rochelle
Jonathan Danty comes into the scrum, shoring up the flank after the yellow card for second row Thomas Lavault.
Turns out it could be a decent career switch for the big man. Leinster are sent into retreat. Wayne Barnes awards the penalty and Ihaia West kicks into the corner.
Can the 14 men get a score that puts them in front?
Line-out five out incoming...
'What on earth have you done?'published at 18:30 British Summer Time 28 May 2022
Leinster 21-17 La Rochelle
Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 LiveThe La Rochelle players will have seen that trip on the big screen and thought 'What on earth have you done? Why would you do that?'
It was a total shocker but it's now up to the leaders, the senior players of La Rochelle, to step up.
Penalty - Leinster 21-17 La Rochellepublished at 65 mins
Ross Byrne
Leinster's replacement fly-half Ross Byrne holds his nerve over the kicking equivalent of a slippery three-footer.
Four points is the Leinster lead. And they have nine minutes of power play to exploit with Lavault in the bin.
Sin-bin - La Rochelle's Thomas Lavaultpublished at 64 mins
Leinster 18-17 La Rochelle
This could be a turning point...
La Rochelle second row Thomas Lavault sticks out a leg to trip Jamison Gibson-Park. It is instinctive rather than malicious.
But it is also yellow.
And a penalty shot right in front.
The momentum is swinging all over the shop.
'Telling errors from Sexton'published at 18:24 British Summer Time 28 May 2022
Leinster 18-17 La Rochelle
Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 LiveOver the last five minutes there have been some telling errors from Johnny Sexton and probably the coaches have seen his fragile defence and decided to take that away from La Rochelle's armoury.
Replacementpublished at 62 mins
Leinster 18-17 La Rochelle
Johnny Sexton is going to watch the rest of this hunt for a fifth Champions Cup from the touchlines.
His ankle has beaten him. Ross Byrne is on at 10.
'What are Leinster truly made of?'published at 18:24 British Summer Time 28 May 2022
Leinster 18-17 La Rochelle
Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 LiveLeinster tried to disrupt La Rochelle's maul but it was like a scrummage on the move. That's well practised, it was dynamic and a well executed.
We will see what Leinster are truly made of. They have won some big games over the years but you just feel this is now a battle of the minds not of the body.
Converted try - Leinster 18-17 La Rochellepublished at 60 mins
Pierre Bourgarit (con West)
Game very much on.
A drive full of muscle, gristle and horsepower and it is hooker Pierre Bourgarit who emerges from under the great piles of protein to claim the score.
Ihaia West nails the conversion.
A one-point ball game.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 60 mins
Leinster 18-10 La Rochelle
Jamison Gibson-Park is penalised for sealing off a breakdown. Ihaia West punts into the corner.
Here we go. Line-out white, five out...
'Like an Ibiza beach'published at 18:18 British Summer Time 28 May 2022
Leinster 18-10 La Rochelle
Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 LiveIt's like a beach in Ibiza with bodies lying everywhere.
The La Rochelle players are off their feet whereas Leinster have a bit of a spring in their step.
Postpublished at 58 mins
Leinster 18-10 La Rochelle
Jimmy O'Brien tries to shepherd a ball back over the dead-ball line, but did the bounce catch him off the knee before the ball went over the whitewash. It did.
A goal-line drop-out for Leinster rather than the scrum back.
'Sexton's got away with it twice'published at 18:14 British Summer Time 28 May 2022
Leinster 18-10 La Rochelle
Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 LiveJohnny Sexton was close to another shoulder to the head - the officials have to look at this but he's got away with it twice.
His tackle technique is appalling. He is very upright.
Postpublished at 56 mins
Leinster 18-10 La Rochelle
Argh!
The wires get in a right old tangle for La Rochelle.
Ihaia West bullets a pass into the considerable stomach of Uini Atonio as the prop gets in the way of a wide vibe.
West shakes his head in frustration as the ball goes forward.
That will feature in the Monday morning debrief.
Scrum Leinster, 15m out from their own line.
Postpublished at 55 mins
Leinster 18-10 La Rochelle
Here come La Rochelle.
They are into the Leinster 22m...
Penalty - Leinster 18-10 La Rochellepublished at 53 mins
Johnny Sexton
Leinster are more than seven clear with a little over 25 minutes left on the clock.
You'd take that at 16:30 today.