That is all from us, as Leinster clinch a thrilling and important 16-9 victory against La Rochelle in the pouring rain in France.

Leo Cullen's side enact revenge after losing to the French side in the last two Champions Cup finals, as they get this season's Pool Four campaign underway with a hard-fought win.

You can read Andy Gray's report from the game here.

Thanks for joining us for this titanic tussle, goodbye.

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Leinster have done it!

A really hard-fought away win for Leo Cullen's men in difficult conditions.

With the game on a knife-edge for much of the second half, it came down to a few key moments.

La Rochelle failed to capitalise on a number of chances, but Leinster deserve enormous credit for their defence which held out wave after wave of attack from the hosts.

A really impressive win for the Irish province in the opening round of the Champions Cup.

Ciaran Frawley with an unbelievable penalty from 60 metres out!

He steps up and nails the kick in the pouring rain with a few metres to spare.

What a way to finish this hard-fought contest.

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Leinster have turned it over!

Josh van der Flier with a crucial intervention which could win them the game.

He wins the penalty as the clock goes red and it looks like Ciaran Frawley is going to have a shot at the posts...

La Rochelle makes series of carries as they work their way into Leinster's half.

With just over two minutes to go can the French side snatch the win with a late score?

La Rochelle win the lineout but cough the ball up!

The chance is gone and there is not much time left to work their way back into this game.

Once again, Leinster survive a scare and have a scrum in their own 22 as they look to clear their lines.

With just over six minutes to go, La Rochelle have won a penalty in Leinster's 22.

They go for the corner and the crowd are on their feet.

They have to get this lineout right...

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Andrew Porter charges down a clearance kick from Brice Dulin and a clever probing kick from Leinster is touched down by La Rochelle in their in goal area.

Goal line dropout.

La Rochelle still battling their way back into this game.

They have a lineout on the Irish side's 22 and go through the phases but Leinster's defence forces the French backwards.

They resort to kicking for territory and a game of kick-tennis ensues.

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La Rochelle having issues at the lineout which grants Leinster a reprieve.

A maul penalty from Leinster and Antoine Hastoy gets a shot at the posts but skews the kick wide from just over 40 metres out.

Leinster still four points ahead with fifteen minutes to go.

Charlie Ngatai's break through the middle and subsequent offside from La Rochelle at the ruck gives Leinster another chance to kick for the posts and Frawley makes no mistake from the kicking tee.

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Leinster have the penalty and Ciaran Frawley kicks for touch just beyond the La Rochelle 22.

Replacement Charlie Ngatai carries in midfield following a successful lineout and wins a penalty, with La Rochelle going offside.

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The sides swap possession, with La Rochelle unable to claim the restart cleanly and Leinster are awarded a scrum in the opposition 22.

Josh van der Flier carries the ball but loses it in contact and La Rochelle clear.

Leinster go through the phases but this time it's Ciaran Frawley who knocks on.

La Rochelle win another scrum penalty and once again Antoine Hastoy confidently knocks it over from the kicking tee in tricky conditions.

The hosts have reduced the deficit to one point for the second time in the game.

The game really is on a knife-edge with not much between the two sides.

Josh van der Flier has come on for Will Connors.

La Rochelle win a scrum penalty and work their way towards the line with a quick tap and carry which leaves them just short of the try-line.

Desperate defending from Leinster, who do incredibly well to hold the ball up. The chance is gone for the French side.

Ciaran Frawley hits the drop-out and La Rochelle run it back once more.

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Brice Dulin did well to beat a couple of defenders and Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan has been penalised for a deliberate knock-on.

Antoine Hastoy goes for the corner.

The momentum has swung firmly in the direction of the hosts early into the second half, but the Leinster defence stands firm for now.

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Matthew Carley blows his whistle and we're back for the second half.

The weather has not improved during the break and it looks like we're in store for another abrasive scrap for the next 40 minutes.

Harry Byrne has not returned to the field following a head injury assessment.

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Leinster go in slightly the happier of the two sides with a narrow lead following a dog-fight of a first half.

It has been difficult for either side to play running rugby or gain sustained momentum.

Not vintage rugby from either side, but an immensely physical arm-wrestle of a contest in the pouring rain.

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Ciaran Frawley comes onto the pitch as Harry Byrne receives treatment after a hard tackle.

His first action is to kick a nerveless penalty in the driving rain.

It's also the last action of the half as Leinster go in four points ahead, but La Rochelle still very much within touching distance.

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