25 mins: Dulin kicks to the corner and almost finds Leyds, pinning Leinster into near their line again and again.
La Rochelle 3 Leinster 3
23 mins: Dulin has been lively so far and almost gets a 50-22. A break as Atonio receives treatment for La Rochelle.
Leinster lose the defensive lineout and La Rochelle play it quickly wide but Leinster safely turn it over again, Osborne clears.
La Rochelle 3 Leinster 3
20 mins: They go for a lineout this time. Well collected and then a ruck to a few metres away. Van der Flier getting in some strong tackles. And they force La Rochelle back several metres. And then Gibson-Park turns over the ball! Great defending.
La Rochelle 3 Leinster 3
18 mins: A five-metre scrum then, but it’s scrappy and they don’t get clean ball. But it’s a penalty against Leinster for the scrum collapsing and La Rochelle choose another scrum.
Leinster holding them up after several phases but Leinster infringe again and another penalty. Big La Rochelle pressure.
La Rochelle 3 Leinster 3
14 mins: A scare for Prendergast as he takes too long over a kick and is charged down from the restart. La Rochelle up to the 22. Nice little grubber kick towards the line and they’re forced over their own line.
La Rochelle 3 Leinster 3
11 mins: Penalty scored by Leinster. They win a penalty just inside halfway. Prendergast opts for the posts and it’s nicely kicked straight over.
La Rochelle 3 Leinster 3
8 mins: La Rochelle captain Alldritt turns over the ball, it’s been a good start by the French side. La Rochell make great ground and heading for the posts but Leinster get the turnover with some gritty defending, Good atmosphere at the Stade Marcel Deflandre.
La Rochelle 3 Leinster 0
4 mins: Penalty scored by La Rochelle! Penalty after Leinster were offside. Antoine Hastoy takes an impressive kick from just past halfway. Early lead for the hosts.
La Rochelle 3 Leinster 0
2 mins: The game is under way and it’s a good start by Leinster with Barrett taking a good restart. Good territory by Leinster early but La Rochelle clear the ball and Jimmy O’Brien can’t keep his foot in play.
La Rochelle 0 Leinster 0
In rugby’s evolution in the professional era, it’s hard to remember a time when there was so much value placed on creative players as there is now, those who can transcend systems and play with a predator’s instincts, writes Gordon D’Arcy. And he writes that Sam Prengergast can be that creative fulcrum for Leinster.
[ Sam Prendergast’s next task is to make Leinster less predictableOpens in new window ]
One from last week on Leinster and the impact of Jacques Nienaber from Nathan Johns. He asks are we seeing the Springbok-ification of Leinster? He writes Leinster’s focus on defence, set-pieces, and their kicking game has left them looking remarkably similar to South Africa. That will be put to the test today against La Rochelle.
[ Are Leinster becoming more like the Springboks?Opens in new window ]
Other favourites for the competition Bordeaux Begles and Toulouse both won yesterday, while there was a victory for Munster and a defeat for Ulster. Read about the Champions Cup here:
[ Champions Cup wrap: Bordeaux Bègles and Toulouse maintain winning recordsOpens in new window ]
Gerry Thornley also has a profile of Ronan O’Gara and how it’s going for him at the moment over in France. He writes that the Cork coach and his club have become, to a degree, victims of their success.
Will Skelton this week told The Irish Times about his genuine gratitude for “being coached by a guy like Rog, whom I grew up watching, and guys like Donnacha Ryan [forwards coach]. We have Sean Dougall [contact skills coach], Romain Carmignani [forwards and defence coach], Seb Boboul [attack coach] and Kevin Gourdon [technical analysis] – guys who have played for the club and know the history of the club.
“Then we have players like Greg Alldritt and Uini Atonio. Every day is a day I love going to work. I love playing for this team. It’s a special place.”
Here is Gerry Thornley’s match preview:
“And so finally, it’s upon us. Some matches loom on the horizon way more brightly than most. Ever since the fixtures were announced last July, no matchup has stood out for the respective teams, players and supporters of La Rochelle and Leinster quite like this clash.”
Of Leinster, Thornley says:
“Last season’s deserved double must have exorcised some Leinster demons and they are a defensively steelier side this season. The multiphase attack is still nothing like it was but Prendergast’s emergence has given them another dimension, albeit this is another test of his so-far impressive composure.”
[ Leinster v La Rochelle: New arrivals add spice to a rivalry like no otherOpens in new window ]
Hello and welcome to live coverage of La Rochelle against Leinster at Stade Marcel Deflandre in the third round of the Champions Cup pool stages. Kick-off in France is at 3.15pm.
This is a tie that does not need much introduction, it is the biggest Champions Cup rivalry in modern times. La Rochelle denied Leinster three times in a row in the competition’s latter stages, in a semi-final and in two tight finals, but Leinster got their revenge last year by beating Ronan O’Gara’s side twice. There are a few absences, Will Skelton misses out for La Rochelle, as does Jonathan Danty and Teddy Thomas. Leinster had planned to leave Jordie Barrett in reserve but a late injury to Tommy O’Brien means he starts at fullback with Hugo Keenan out, while Tadhg Furlong returns to the frontrow after some time out.
Stade Rochelais: Brice Dulin, Jack Nowell, UJ Seuteni, Jules Favre, Dillyn Leyds; Antoine Hastoy, Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Reda Wardi, Quentin Lespiaucq, Uini Atonio, Thomas Lavault, Kane Douglas, Paul Boudehent, Oscar Jegou, Grégory Alldritt (capt).
Replacements: Nikoloz Sutidze, Alexandre Kaddouri, Georges-Henri Colombe, Ultan Dillane, Levani Botia, Judicael Cancoriet, Matthias Haddad, Hoani Bosmorin.
Leinster: Jordie Barrett; Jamie Osborne, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, Jimmy O’Brien; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Cian Healy, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Andrew Porter, Rabah Slimani, RG Snyman, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Ciarán Frawley.
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Geo)
