European Champions Cup final LIVE: Leinster v La Rochelle commentary & score

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

Live Reporting

Mike Henson

Team newspublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 28 May 2022
Leinster v La Rochelle (16:45 BST)
Image source, Getty
Last year's beaten finalists La Rochelle will be without flanker Victor Vito and scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow, who both miss out through injury.
Will Skelton starts in the second row alongside Thomas Lavault.
Australian lock Skelton, who was been struggling with a calf injury, made his return off the bench in the Top 14 win over Stade Francais.
La Rochelle: Dulin; Leyds, Sinzelle, Danty, Rhule; West, Berjon; Priso, Bourgarit, Atonio, Lavault, Skelton; Liebenberg, Haddad, Alldritt (capt).
Replacements: Bosch, Wardi, Sclavi, Sazy, Boureau, Retiere, Botia, Favre.
'You think ' this is easy''published at 16:19 British Summer Time 28 May 2022
Leinster v La Rochelle (16:45 BST)
Image source, Getty Images
Leinster fly-half Johnny Sexton, 36, has been there for all of his side's previous Champions Cup wins in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018.
The Ireland kingpin says every success is harder than the last.
“I admit at the start when we won it, when we had a period of success, we won three and four, and you think ‘this is easy’," he said.
“And then you go away and you don’t have it for so long, and then you have so many tough days, you get so close at times. Semi-finals recently, finals. It just proves how hard it is."
The stage is setpublished at 16:10 British Summer Time 28 May 2022
Leinster v La Rochelle (16:45 BST)
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Team newspublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 28 May 2022
Leinster v La Rochelle (16:45 BST)
Image source, Getty Images
Leinster's Tadhg Furlong and James Lowe have been passed fit to start against La Rochelle after ankle and shin injuries respectively.
The pair are named as part of an unchanged side from their semi-final win over Toulouse.
Garry Ringrose will make his 100th appearance for Leinster as they seek a record-equalling fifth Champions Cup.
Leinster: Keenan; J O'Brien, Ringrose, Henshaw, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Gibson-Park; Porter, Kelleher, Furlong, Molony, Ryan; Doris, Van der Flier, Conan.
Replacements:Sheehan, Healy, Ala'alatoa, McCarthy, Ruddock, McGrath, R Byrne, Frawley.
Marseille bakes and waitspublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 28 May 2022
Leinster v La Rochelle (16:45 BST)
Image source, Getty Images
The decibels and mercury are rising down on the Mediterranean coast.
As blue-blooded European rugby royalty mix with the continent's new powerhouse, the temperature in Marseille is up to 28C.
There will be tears shed and sweat by the bucket load and after 80 plus minutes of gruelling top-level rugby a new set of European kings will be crowned.
Will it be Leinster or La Rochelle? We are about to find out....
Image source, Getty