The cheat sheet of Leinster-La Rochelle in the Champions Cup final: Unsinkable and magnificent

The Game: Heaven After Hell

As in 2022, the Rochelais snatched victory in the last ten minutes. This time thanks to the power of Georges-Henri Colombe (72nd) who came to conclude a big sequence on the Leinster line, then thanks to the transformation of Antoine Hastoy. Before then, the Maritimes had never led in a spirited and very heated final.

Players: Tormenting Botia, Tranquilizing Hastoy

Difficult to bring out elements in a machine that continues to move forward united. This new victory is again that of a group that has remained united, even in difficult times. Gathered under the posts after the three attempts conceded early, the Yellow and Black group did not tremble and refocused to start again.

As a symbol, Levani Botia first experienced hell in the first quarter of an hour before raising his head and going into battle. The Fijian third line gave of his person in the rucks where the Irish guard has always been there to challenge. Balls in hand, Botia was able to bring power to hurt the defensive curtain of Leinster.

Antoine Hastoy was in his first Champions Cup final and he didn’t miss it. Impeccable on game launches, he was decisive on Seuteni’s try (38th) which he shifted in the right tempo. At the foot, he scored twelve points but above all the transformation synonymous with victory eight minutes from the end. He showed a very precious calm in this part rich in emotions and was precious in the camp outings.

The action: Dove, last sacrifice before the relief

If the Rochelais took control of the game eight minutes from the end, victory was far from certain. The last five minutes were unbreathable for the Maritimes who suffered the last onslaught of Leinster. While they could attempt a penalty or position themselves to attempt the drop, Jack Conan’s teammates chose to pound a few meters from the Rochelais in-goal.

Always united, the yellow and black pack held on and even cracked their opponents. By clearing the head, Michael Ala’alatoa received a red card in the 79th minute. Colombe came out on a stretcher after the K.-O. but the Rochelais obtained the penalty and were able to breathe definitively.

The Stat’: 361 meters gained

Ultra-dominated in the first quarter of an hour of this final, the Rochelais showed some response at the end of the first act but especially throughout the second half. From the simple point of view of the statistics of the game, the maritime domination is very clear (361 meters gained against 218 for Leinster, twice as many defenders beaten, 59% of possession). However, the formidable Irish efficiency in the first twelve minutes could have given them victory. But La Rochelle’s domination over the next hour was finally rewarded. And the many offensive assaults from the Yellow and Black ended up bending the aggressive defense of Leinster (183 tackles against 73 for La Rochelle).

The declaration (Romain Sazy on France TV):

The question: What can prevent La Rochelle from winning the Top 14?

There was none before the final, there is not even a shadow of a doubt: La Rochelle is a cador of European rugby. Ronan O’Gara’s men even finish this Champions Cup 2022-2023 undefeated. Enough to prove that Marseille’s feat a year ago was no exception. Double-champions of Europe, the Maritimes will try to impose themselves in the league and win the coveted Brennus shield, which they have never raised.

“We still have deadlines but we want to win everything“, said Romain Sazy directly after the final. Proof of the level of goals that the group is aiming for. Last season, Grégory Alldritt’s teammates did not make the Champions Cup / Top 14 transition. But this year, the Yellow and Black are even stronger. In the league, it’s hard to see who could stop them, except maybe Stade Toulousain. Or themselves. After 80 minutes of a fight as hard emotionally as physically to get this final, the risk of decompression is not to be ignored.The difficulty will be to remobilize to go back on the attack.