Last-minute Retiere try wins Champions Cup for La Rochelle

:La Rochelle snatched a stunning 24-21 victory over favourites Leinster thanks to a last-minute try by Arthur Retiere after a monumental 10-minute goal-line assault in a superb European Champions Cup final in Marseille on Saturday.

Leinster had looked on course for a record-equalling fifth triumph as they heroically defended their line and a four-point lead for almost all of the final 10 minutes, only for Retiere to finally stretch over.

Johnny Sexton kicked six penalties and Ross Byrne added another as Leinster led throughout, despite a try in each half for the French side by Raymond Rhule and Pierre Bourgarit.

But La Rochelle, beaten in last year's final by Toulouse, backed themselves by turning down a succession of kickable penalties to hammer away through the forwards, and eventually got their reward - via a replacement wing.

It was an incredible finale to a hugely entertaining match as La Rochelle fully delivered on coach Ronan O'Gara's pre-match promise that his team "might not win, but we won't lose it."

Two Sexton penalties had Leinster ahead as they started with all their usual speed and energy but it was La Rochelle who claimed the first try when Dillyn Leyds off-loaded cleverly to fellow South African Rhule who then blasted clear to score.

La Rochelle had come into the game with a reputation as a power unit but they also showed plenty of creativity in attack and stretched Leinster all across the field in the first half.

However, their final pass accuracy faltered as they failed to turn positional dominance into points and Leinster survived and then earned another penalty that Sexton slotted for a 12-7 halftime lead.

BOURGARIT TRY

La Rochelle ruined much of their good work with a succession of penalties, which were