Leinster hang on for impressive win at La Rochelle

Leinster escaped from France with a seriously hard-earned Investec Champions Cup victory as they held on to beat La Rochelle 16-14.

Sam Prendergast scored three penalties and converted Joe McCarthy's first-half try at Stade Marcel-Deflandre.

In a frantic finish, La Rochelle's Antoine Hastoy hit the post with a penalty that would have won the game, and then had a drop-goal blocked.

Leinster had to go to the well to withstand intense pressure at the death but they saw it out to make it three pool wins from three.

It was the sides' sixth meeting since 2021 with Leo Cullen's men having won both clashes last season, including a 16-9 win at the same venue.

While Leinster have won all matches this season, this was their biggest challenge to date and the first real test of their revived defensive structure.

They passed with flying colours.

For all of the hosts' possession in the first half, they were restricted to two Hastoy penalties and denied on a number of occasions by tenacious Leinster tackling.

Captain Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park and Jordie Barrett all coming up with big plays to keep Ronan O'Gara's men out.

Leinster, beaten finalists in the last three seasons, made 183 tackles in total, and turned the ball over ten times.

It was always likely to be nip and tuck with Prendergast's 12th minute penalty from distance levelling up after Hastoy knocked over an early kick.

The set-pieces were messy with both sides conceding penalties and free kicks, while soon after La Rochelle stole a lineout throw, Hastoy edged them back in front when Robbie Henshaw was penalised in midfield.

A trademark run by Ryan Baird just before the half-hour mark got Leinster in position to strike for their only try of the game.

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