Caelan Doris: Pool win gives Leinster belief v La Rochelle

Leinster may have seen their Champions Cup hopes ended by La Rochelle in each of the last three seasons, but December's pool stage win over the defending champions has given them belief that they can be beaten.

Leo Cullen's side travelled to La Rochelle in the opening round of the pool stage four months ago, and prevailed 16-9 in yet another thriller.

It broke their losing streak against the French side, who have been their arch-nemesis in their quest for a fifth Champions Cup title.

A semi-final defeat in France in 2021 was followed by agonising losses in both the 2022 and 2023 finals, when La Rochelle scored tries in the final 10 minutes of each.

And although the stakes weren't as high when Leinster finally got over the line at Stade Marcel Deflandre earlier this season, Caelan Doris says it's given them belief that they can get the better of the champions when it matters.

"It affirms the belief in our squad in what we're capable of doing," Doris told RTÉ Sport.

"I don't think the losses took away from that belief necessarily, but definitely getting the victory shows us and proves further that we are capable of it and and that we can do it at the latter stages in Europe."

The 26-year-old admits he and the team are still carrying some scars from last year's final in particular.

The province got off to an incredible start at the Aviva Stadium, scoring three tries in the opening 12 minutes to lead 17-0, only for Ronan O'Gara's side to reel them in and win 27-26, with Georges-Henri Colombe's late try sealing back to back titles.

"The lessons from that are you need to keep attacking the game. A quality team like them are not going to lay down easily. It's really an 80-minute performance is needed to get the better of them.

"I think