Leinster well and truly banished their demons today as they hammered Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle 40-13 in their European Champions Cup quarterfinal.
Leinster have been knocked out of the last three Champions Cups by La Rochelle, with Ronan O'Gara's side beating them in the last two finals and a semi-final before that. However, Leinster were utterly dominant today scoring 5 tries in the Aviva Stadium, with Brian O'Driscoll identifying one key change that made that possible.
Tries from Jamison Gibson Park and James Lowe as well as excellent kicking from Ross Byrne saw Leinster their French opposition 23-13 at the break, after a cagey first half that left everything to play for.
However, it was a game of two halves and the second was all Leinster's. La Rochelle failed to advance on their 13 points while Leinster added three tries to their tally, depriving O'Gara's side of chances for the whole half and putting themselves in a semi-final.
"And that is the nail in the coffin..."
James Lowe goes over near the corner after a superb Robbie Henshaw pass out wide... it's all over bar the shouting at the Aviva.#RTErugby #LEIvSR
📺LIVE RTÉ2 & RTÉPlayer
📱Updates https://t.co/YXqp4pbqKj & RTÉ App
📻LISTEN RTÉ Radio 1 pic.twitter.com/DSqMhy0JTa— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 13, 2024
READ MORE: McCarthy & Baird Unlock New Dimension In Leinster Side To Help End La Rochelle Hoodoo
Brian O'Driscoll heaps praise on Jacques Nienaber for Leinster win
While Leinster were utterly dominant today, their performance was worlds away from their previous encounters with La Rochelle.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Brian O'Driscoll attributed the change in performance to one big change in the Leinster camp.
So comprehensive. That whole defensive system that Jacques Nienaber said it was gonna take a while to click, it felt like today was the day and it just had such a positive impact on their attack game as well.
The physicality from the defence and the collision winning was glossed over and when they carried every single time they were winning yards, eaking out one or two and that's what it's all about against the big physical teams.
Their scramble as well, in this defensive system..you can vulnerable be out there (on the edges) but it's fool's gold..the scramble and working hard for your team is what the blitz defence is all about and I thought Leinster really excelled in that today.
O Driscoll's co-pundit, former Scottish rugby star John Barclay echoed similar comments, heaping praise on what Nienaber has brought to the camp.
The one thing you could point to in the last number of years, in the knockout games against the really big heavy physical packs, they (Leinster) sometimes haven't matched it and I think this new defence under Jacques Nienaber has completely changed it. They're so aggressive, they're so relentless, that's one of the biggest heaviest teams they'll play against and they (La Rochelle) couldn't fire a shot.
Jacques Nienaber was Leinster's high-profile summer signing when he joined Leo Cullen's coaching ticket after winning back-to-back Rugby World Cups as South Africa's head coach. There, he was renowned for the aggression and unrelenting brand of rugby that South Africa played and if Brian O'Driscoll is right, his addition clearly made all the difference today.
SEE ALSO: Uini Atonio And Leo Cullen In Agreement On Who The "Cork Mafia" Are Backing At The Aviva
