La Rochelle knockout record not an advantage - Donnacha Ryan

La Rochelle's knockout record against Leinster is not a psychological advantage to the French side ahead their Investec Champions Cup quarter-final, says Donnacha Ryan.

The teams clash for the fifth time in four seasons at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon (5.30pm, live on RTÉ).

Starting with the semi-final of 2021, a game played behind closed doors at Stade Marcel-Deflandre, La Rochelle have won all three play-off games, a run that includes the 2022 and 2023 finals.

The margin of victory in those games was nine points, three points and one point, respectively.

However, Leo Cullen’s side recorded a hard-fought 16-9 win over the defending champions in the opening Pool 4 clash in December.

In ties with real jeopardy, it’s Ronan O’Gara’s men that have come through each time.

"No," the former Munster and Ireland lock, assistant coach at La Rochelle since 2021, said when asked if their record was any advantage.

"We take every game on its merits. It’s obviously a completely different animal as well. There’s change in staff. Players have come in as well.

"We’ve different challenges this time around. That’s good, it gives us a chance to test ourselves as a group.

"I think this weekend we can put in a good performance, put in a performance we have been trying to get for the last number of months since the boys have come back from the World Cup."

Home sweet home