Goodbyepublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 30 April 2023
FT: La Rochelle 47-28 Exeter Chiefs
That's it from us for today, the final between La Rochelle and Leinster on Saturday, 20 May should be a cracker!
Image source, Getty ImagesSummary
Holders La Rochelle run in seven tries to reach Champions Cup final
French side produce dazzling semi-final display in Bordeaux
La Rochelle will face Leinster in final on 20 May in Dublin
Hosts lead 26-7 at half-time after tries from Raymond Rhule, UJ Seuteni, Gregory Aldritt and Tawera Kerr-Barlow
Rhule, Kerr-Barlow and Pierre Bourgarit score in second half
Exeter respond with three late tries as they fought to the end
Goodbyepublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 30 April 2023
Image source, Getty Images'We are extremely proud'published at 17:04 British Summer Time 30 April 2023
FT: La Rochelle 48-27 Exeter Chiefs
La Rochelle's Will Skelton speaking to BT Sport: "We are extremely proud, the fans brought us home. We knew what Exeter would bring and we had a tough week in training but we're extremely proud.
"We try to play to our strengths, and a lot of people say we are not the fittest team so to put 40 points on the board is a nice feeling."
Image source, Getty Images'We want to finish on a high'published at 17:01 British Summer Time 30 April 2023
FT: La Rochelle 47-18 Exeter Chiefs
Exeter's Jack Nowell talking to BT Sport: "They are an unbelievable team, it was tough to come here but we have no excuses. We should not have had that yellow card, we have to work on our discipline.
"I am devastated (being so far behind) but it shows the belief in this team. When you give such a big lead it is hard to come back from.
"We will talk about finishing on a high, we have been through so much together, we want to finish on a high and put some smiles on a few faces."
Last hurrah for Exeterpublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 30 April 2023
La Rochelle 47-28 Exeter Chiefs
It's a sad moment for the Chiefs, with their squad set to be broken up this summer. But they should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved.
La Rochelle make their third straight finalpublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 30 April 2023
FT: La Rochelle 47-28 Exeter Chiefs
Aside from that first few minutes when Exeter scored, La Rochelle were in almost complete control although they did fade a bit around 60 minutes.
Full-timepublished at 16:53 British Summer Time 30 April 2023
La Rochelle 47-28 Exeter Chiefs
That's it, and we have another La Rochelle-Leinster final in the offing!
No trypublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 30 April 2023
La Rochelle 47-28 Exeter Chiefs
Yes it does, Thomas came from in front into a maul, so it's just 47-28 for the last 22 seconds.
Try reviewpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 30 April 2023
Hang on, did Teddy Thomas infringe? At this stage, does it matter?
Try - La Rochelle 52-28 Exeter Chiefspublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 30 April 2023
Quentin Lespiaucq
Yet another power play from the champions to bring up the half century.
Postpublished at 76 mins
La Rochelle 47-28 Exeter Chiefs
Gregory Alldritt was arguing with Jaco Peyper after the try, and replays show the ball didn't get to ground, so you can see why he was irked.
Converted try - La Rochelle 47-28 Exeter Chiefspublished at 74 mins
Jack Yeandle (Conv. Joe Simmonds)
And another! The substitute hooker just gets there amidst a tangle of bodies, and Joe Simmonds converts to reduce the gap to 'just' 19.
Converted try - La Rochelle 47-21 Exeter Chiefspublished at 69 mins
Olly Woodburn (Conv. Joe Simmonds)
Wonderful spirit from Exeter!
Stuart Hogg, on from the bench, kickstarts a move down the left, then there's an exchange of passes that ends with Olly Woodburn diving over by the flag.
Joe Simmonds slots a difficult conversion with aplomb.
Converted try - La Rochelle 47-14 Exeter Chiefspublished at 68 mins
Tawera Kerr-Barlow (Conv. Antoine Hastoy)
Lovely stuff!
A wonderful pass from UJ Seutini starts the move that ends with the mercurial scrum half slicing through for his second try.
Postpublished at 63 mins
La Rochelle 40-14 Exeter Chiefs
The champions are straight back at it, Rhule denied a hat-trick chance by the flag when Olly Woodburn just about plucks a high ball in front of him.
Converted try - La Rochelle 40-14 Exeter Chiefspublished at 58 mins
Josh Iosefa-Scott (Conv. Joe Simminds)
Start of the comeback?
Sam Simmonds looks to be over in the corner before a great tackle by Raymond Rhule sees the number eight stumble, try for the line then stumble again.
The ball is moved infield and after a few phases, Josh Iosefa-Scott just gets the ball down despite a few yellow shirts trying to stop the replacement.
Converted try - La Rochelle 40-7 Exeter Chiefspublished at 54 mins
Pierre Bourgarit (Conv. Antoine Hastoy)
The hooker dives over for the sixth try.
It's his throw in from five meters out that starts it, La Rochelle then rumble to the line and the number two dives low over the whitewash for a textbook score.
Postpublished at 52 mins
La Rochelle 33-7 Exeter Chiefs
Relentless pressure from the defending champions. They destroy a scrum, then Tawera Kerr-Barlow tries a chip through the Exeter backline but a knock-on sees it called back.
Postpublished at 48 mins
La Rochelle 33-7 Exeter Chiefs
And they are giving it a go, running it from side to side with a looping Joe Simmonds pass across half of the width of the pitch setting up Jack Nowell.
Postpublished at 46 mins
La Rochelle 33-7 Exeter Chiefs
The Chiefs have no option but to go for it now, but that's easier said than done.
Image source, Getty ImagesConverted try - La Rochelle 33-7 Exeter Chiefspublished at 43 mins
Raymond Rhule (Conv. Antoine Hastoy)
Gorgeous stuff.
Antoine Hastoy kicks off the side of his boot to the left corner, Raymond Rhule leaps and catches before going a touch closer to the posts to allow the fly half to pop the kick over.
Game over?
Image source, Getty Images