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
Leinster 15-10 La Rochelle
Dan Sheehan careers up the wing, making yards after a string of slick Leinster moves.
Opposite number Pierre Bourgarit gets over the top to force a turnover, but Wayne Barnes is bringing play back for another La Rochelle infringement.
Again it is bang in front.
Again, Johnny Sexton is going to take the points.
Death by a thousand cuts and a hundred pieces of indiscipline.
Leinster 15-10 La Rochelle
That will sting in the morning.
Jonathan Danty gets his horns up and his hooves charging, thundering into Johnny Sexton and bouncing the Leinster fly-half back five metres.
Danty actually needed a little treatment after the collision and the ball was spilled forward by one of his supporting players.
Put in Leinster and Sexton has dusted himself down just fine.
Leinster 15-10 La Rochelle
Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live
Phenomenal defence from La Rochelle to stop the try. They are getting their intensity just right but with the effort they are putting into it, the question is whether they can keep that going for the next 30 minutes.
Johnny Sexton
Easy money for the old-timer.
Sexton's boot keeps the scoreboard ticking with a fifth penalty and keeps Leinster's noses in front.
Leinster 12-10 La Rochelle
A blue body burrows over the line, but referee Wayne Barnes says the ball has not got to the floor for the score.
We are coming back from an infringement around the fringe. Not quite sure what it was.
Johnny Sexton is not asking too many questions either. He calls for the tee...
Leinster 12-10 La Rochelle
Leinster are inches away...
Leinster 12-10 La Rochelle
Jimmy O'Brien nudges a cute kick in beyond and into the corner.
It won't go dead. Raymond Rhule has to punt it into the stands under pressure from James Lowe.
Line-out blue, five out from the whitewash...
Leinster 12-10 La Rochelle
La Rochelle prop Dany Priso gets his bearings wrong as he attempts to hit the back of a driven Leinster maul.
Not joining from the back foot and that is a midfield penalty for Leinster.
Ihaia West
Ihaia West clips over the kick. He could have done it in carpet slippers.
A single score of any kind seperates the two teams.
Leinster 12-7 La Rochelle
Jimmy O'Brien safely claims the restart but Leinster infringe as they attempt to clean out a clogged breakdown over Caelan Doris.
Penalty with less than a minute on the clock in the second half.
Should be simple...
HT: Leinster 12-7 La Rochelle
Leinster are first out for the second half, keen for the offf and looking for the jugular.
Ihaia West to boot off.
HT: Leinster 12-7 La Rochelle
Image source, GettyThis is far from done. Russ Petty with the stats. Of course, Leinster themselves know all too well that half-time final leads can disappear like flatulence in turbulance.
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Leinster 12-7 La Rochelle
Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live
La Rochelle will be emphasising some of the effective methods they've used to get through Leinster on numerous occasions. They will be feeling relatively positive. They are very creative and look dangerous in the wider areas.
I haven't seen Leinster really threaten more than once or twice and they might be getting a bit of a rocket in the dressing room even though they are ahead.
Leinster 12-7 La Rochelle
Johnny Sexton
Over it goes, there he blows.
Leinster trot down the tunnel five points clear.
They are forty minutes away from a fifth European crown.
Leinster 9-7 La Rochelle
A penalty advantage for Leinster to play with as the La Rochelle defence strays offside in their eagerness to get at Jack Conan.
We are coming back for it.
Three easy points?
With the clock in the red, Johnny Sexton opts to cash in.
Leinster 9-7 La Rochelle
Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 Live
The pressure is right back on La Rochelle. Their heads will be spinning because of where they were 30 seconds ago.
Leinster 9-7 La Rochelle
Amazing!
Leinster kick downfield. La Rochelle full-back Brice Dulin dawdles and then backs himself to run out from behind his own line. Jamison Gibson-Park has come chasing up like his tail is on fire.
The Leinster scrum-half sacks Dulin in the in-goal and it is a scrum to Leinster, five out from the La Rochelle line.
A minute left in the first half...
Leinster 9-7 La Rochelle
And that is a huge call from Wayne Barnes! And a huge win for the Leinster front row!
A scrum penalty goes Leinster's way in the shadow of their own posts!
Huge.
Leinster 9-7 La Rochelle
This feels like a crucial little period of the game.
La Rochelle asking all the questions as hooker Pierre Bourgarit goes on a rumble around the front of a line-out and then they sling it wide.
Superb rush defence from Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan hustles a mistake out of the La Rochelle backline with an overlap looming for the French side.
Still another scrum to come for La Rochelle - just five out.
Image source, Getty Images