Champions Cup Final: Leinster & La Rochelle Player Ratings
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La Rochelle claim their maiden Champions Cup title defeating four time winners Leinster 21-24 in the final on Saturday.
It was Arthur Retiere who sealed the victory coming off the bench to score the match winning try as La Rochelle trailled Leinster 21-17 in the final moments of the match.
Leinster started the match brightly putting La Rochelle under pressure. The French outfit's ill-discipline was punished as Jonathan Sexton converted a penalty in the fifth minute and the eight-minute to open up a six-point lead.
La Rochelle found a response after a moment of magic from Dillyn Leyds outside as the South African managed to free his arms and offload to Raymond Rhule. The La Rochelle speedster managed to weave past Hugo Keenan and score the first try of the final. Ihaia West converted the try from outside to put the French side in front after 11 minutes.
Ronan O'Gara's charges managed to wrestle some of the momenta in their favour as they continued to pile the pressure on Leinster but the Irish Province stayed resolute. Sexton punished La Rochelle's discipline two further times before the break slotting two penalties to lead 12-7. The second penalty came after an error from Brice Dulin who tried to step his way out of his own in-goal area but was wrapped up by Jamison Gibson-Park and Leinster would win a free-kick from the resulting scrum and then a penalty just before halftime.
Seconds into the second half and La Rochelle were gifted the opportunity to close the gap as Doris conceded a penalty and West made the most of the chance to make it a two-point ball game (12-10). Leinster responded with two Sexton penalties to extend their lead to 18-10 with half an hour left to play.
Sexton almost got caught out in his own 22 after an attempted drop goal from Brice Dulin in the 59th minute but the flyhalf managed to get the ball away to Keenan. However, La Rochelle chased well and wrapped Dulin up, with Gibson-Park conceding a penalty at the breakdown. From the resulting lineout, La Rochelle formed the driving maul with Pierre Bourgarit putting the finishing touches on the drive, West converted the try (18-17).
Thomas Lavault allowed Leinster to extend their lead to four points as he tripped Gibson-Park while the scrumhalf chased an up and under. The lock was sent to the sin bin for the trip and Ross Byrne, fresh off the bench, nailed the penalty (21-17).
Despite being a man down, La Rochelle applied the pressure on the Leinster defence as they forced the Irish side into several penalties inside their 22. Once they were restored to 15 men, La Rochelle made the pressure count as Arthure Retiere reached out to score the match winning try, West adding the extras to seal La Rochelel's maiden Champions Cup title.
LEINSTER:
15. Hugo Keenan - 6
Beaten for pace by Rhule for the opening try of the match, Keenan was otherwise solid throughout the game proving to be safe under the high ball while adding some pace to the attack in the extremities.
14. Jimmy O'Brien - 5
O'Brien didn't get the ball nearly as much as he is used to but made the most of his chances making over 40 running metres.
He was asked to do a lot on defence and held his own multiple times but was also caught out by the threats posed by Rhule and Leyds.
13. Garry Ringrose - 6.5
Ringrose and Henshaw operated well on defence as they managed to keep Danty and Sinzelle relatively quiet. He wasn't able to break through the La Rochelle defence or set his wingers away.
12. Robbie Henshaw - 7
A strong performance defensively from the Irish centre while he also thundered into contact in an attempt to generate quick attacking ball.
11. James Lowe - 4
A relatively quiet game from the Leinster winger who was unable to spark the attack. He saw very little ball and like O'Brien he was caught out by La Rochelle's attack.
10. Johnny Sexton - 6
Sexton pulled the strings well in the first half with his tactical kicking putting the La Rochelle back three under tremendous pressure. He kicked well out of hand too and sparked the attack, although Leinster didn't fully capitalise on their opportunities in the first 40.
Sexton nailed his shots at goal scoring 18 points in total. He was replaced shortly after he tried to run the ball from deep after Dulin's missed drop goal. He managed to get the ball away but a penalty eventually led to a try for La Rochelle.
Defensively, he was strong as Jonathan Danty thundered down his channel throughout his time on the pitch.
9. Jamison Gibson-Park - 8
Some massive plays in the first half as Gibson-Park's rich run of form continued. The scrumhalf made a key tackle on Brice Dulin in the latter stages of the first half that won Leinster a scrum feed - from there they would add a further three points to their tally and lead 12-7 at halftime.
He made a few enormous clearances and was one of Leinster's best on the pitch.
1. Andrew Porter - 6
Some strong carries and good work at the breakdown. He did have his struggles in the scrums but did also get a few over Antonio.
2. Ronan Kelleher - 3
Kelleher lasted just 15 minutes; as Leinster's lineout and scrum faulted in that time, he was replaced by Sheehan. He looked off the pace and may have been carrying a knock.
3. Tadhg Furlong
La Rochelle managed to keep Furlong relatively quiet as the powerful prop made just six running metres. He put in a tidy defensive shift and enjoyed a good battle with Priso in the scrums.
4. Ross Molony - 7.5
A really busy performance from the second-rower who was a safe lineout option.
He grafted through the match making 14 tackles and hit countless rucks.
5. James Ryan - 7.5
A mammoth defensive shift from the Leinster lock who made 19 tackles in the match.
After a tough start at lineout time in the game, he turned their fortunes at the set piece.
He got little purchase from his carries but did drag a few defenders with him.
6. Caelan Doris - 6
Another Leinster star who had somewhat of a quiet game as he made just five carries and eight tackles.
He did pile into the rucks and left the pitch in the 67th minute making way for Ruddock.
7. Josh van der Flier - 8
The 2022 European Player of the Year, van der Flier had another brilliant game, albeit in defeat.
He made a match-high of 23 tackles, carried superbly and was stopped just short with a barnstorming charge into the La Rochelle 22.
8. Jack Conan - 7.5
A workmanlike performance from Conan who made 16 tackles and got 10 touches of the ball on attack.
Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan - 7.5: Came on early in the 15th minute. He sorted out Leinster's lineout troubles and was a threat all over the park.
17. Cian Healy - 6.5: Made 11 tackles.
18. Michael Ala'alatoa - 6
19. Joe McCarthy - 5
20. Rhys Ruddock - 6
21. Luke McGrath - n/a
22. Ross Byrne - 5
23. Ciaran Frawley - n/a
LA ROCHELLE
15. Brice Dulin - 6
Dulin had some shakey moments at the back, one of which resulted in Leinster's three points before the break.
He did play a key role in finding holes in the Leinster defence entering the attack out wide.
He kicked well out of hand too.
14. Dillyn Leyds - 9
Leyds' assisted the opening try of the game as he brilliantly got his arms free to offload to Rhule. He looked threatening each time he touched the ball.
He made some key interventions on defence too and was sound under the high ball.
Man of the match in the final, and thoroughly deserved.
13. Jérémy Sinzelle - 7.5
The kind of performance that can easily fly under the radar. Sinzelle made some vital reads on defence while his passing game freed up space for the likes of Leyds and Rhule to exploit.
12. Jonathan Danty - 7
Danty generated front foot ball with his big ball carries from the set pieces.
He shifted the ball on well too and was strong on defence.
11. Raymond Rhule - 8
Rhule made an excellent cover tackle in the seventh minute stopping a breakaway Leinster attack that could have resulted in a try.
He scored the opening try of the game as he got on the end of Leyds' offload and burned the Leinster cover defence on his way over the line.
LEYDS! RHULE! ⚡️
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) May 28, 2022
What a try! 🤯#HeinekenChampionsCup #LEIvLAR
pic.twitter.com/wlG13WBSrz
Rhule and Leyds were superb for La Rochelle with their partnership leading the side to victory.
10. Ihaia West - 7.5
After a shaky performance from the tee in the semi-final, West pitched up in the final and produced a flawless display.
It was not only a good performance from the tee but he dictated play well and managed to find gaps in the Leinster defnece.
He missed just one tackle too.
9. Thomas Berjon - 8
With Kerr-Barlow out injured, Berjon was entrusted with the starting scrumhalf role and the youngster stepped up to the plate and produced an excellent performance.
His box kicks were accurate while his service was swift and sharp. He was also the man who put Sexton under pressure which lead to Bourgarit's try.
1. Dany Priso - 6
A few needless penalties against the loosehead but his scrummaging was sound.
2. Pierre Bourgarit - 9
A threat in every department of the game. Bourgarit was La Rochelle's biggest threat over the ball, slowing Leinster's attack at every opportunity.
He carried the furiously bumping off would-be tacklers while his set-piece work was excellent.
3. Uini Atonio - 7
A lovely turnover inside the first three minutes of the match stopped Leinster in their tracks.
He enjoyed a good scrum battle with Andrew Porter and did manage to get the upper hand on few occasions.
He made an impact with ball in hand and on defence too.
4. Thomas Lavault - 4
Lavault run La Rochelle's lineout well and went about his grunt work well but his yellow card was simply silly. His decision to trip Gibson-Park with the scrumhalf posing little threat could have been extremely costly.
5. Will Skelton - 8
6. Wiaan Liebenberg - 7
Into his final matches of professional rugby, Liebenberg is going out on a high. A busy performance in all departments.
7. Matthias Haddad - 7
Haddad came into the starting lineup due to Victor Vito being ruled out through injury. He picked up a head knock but passed the HIA and put in a strong performance.
He made 11 tackles and carried well.
8. Grégory Alldritt - 8
A trademark Alldritt performance with the French back-rower getting stuck into absolutely everything.
He was a real threat at the breakdown working well in tandem with Liebenberg, Bourgarit and Haddad.
Replacements:
16. Facundo Bosch: 6
17. Reda Wardi: 6.5
18. Joel Sclavi: 6
19. Romain Sazy: 5
20. Remi Bourdeau - 5 : Stopped a great La Rochelle attack with an illegal clearout during his first stint on the pitch.
21. Arthur Retiere - 7.5: Scored the match-winning try. Filled in at scrumhalf brilliantly, a match winning cameo.
22. Levani Botia: 6.5
23. Jules Favre: 6
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