Gary Connaughton reporting from the Aviva Stadium
Leinster have ended their long La Rochelle hoodoo once and for all this evening, defeating the French side on a 40-13 scoreline in their Champions Cup quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium.
It was a top class performance from the Irish province, who came into this game having lost to their French counterparts in the knockout stages of this competition in three successive seasons.
They did not play like a team who were carrying the battle scars of those losses, playing the better rugby in the opening ten minutes before taking the lead through the boot of Ross Byrne.
Their defence was perhaps even more encouraging. On the first two occasions that La Rochelle entered their 22, they would turnover possession via Joe McCarthy and Jordan Larmour respectively.
They were awarded at the other end soon after. James Lowe scored the first try of the game in the 17th minute, finishing off a spell of rapid and sustained attacking play from the hosts. Byrne would have no issue with the afters.
James Lowe goes in and over for Leinster! Ross Byrne adds the extras. The Blues lead 10-0 in the Champions Cup quarter-final.#RTErugby #LEIvSR
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The two sides would trade penalties over the next period of the game, each nailing two up to around the half hour mark.
Leinster extended their lead a couple of minutes before the interval, Lowe producing a wonderful offload to find the trailing Gibson-Park who touched down in the corner. Byrne converted, with the out-half went 5/5 from the tee in the opening period.
La Rochelle would find time to go down the other end and respond with a try of their own. Leinster were unable to stop yet another attacking maul, with Louis Penverne touching down to and Hastoy converting to ensure there was only ten points between the sides at the interval.
It was 23-13 with 40 minutes still to play.
With the memories of last year's final still fresh, there were fears around Lansdowne Road that we were about to witness another iconic comeback from Ronan O'Gara's side.
When Ryan Baird scored a try just after the interval, it always looked likely to be Leinster's day.
From this point, Leinster would run riot. As La Rochelle heads dropped, the hosts played some incredible attacking rugby. Dan Sheehan and Lowe would add two more tries, the second of which pushed the lead above 25 points with just over an hour played.
Their pace of play slowed somewhat towards the end, understandably so as they made a number of changes after the result was already secured.
In the end, it was the most convincing of victories from Leinster over the two-time defending European champions.
READ HERE: Richie Murphy Takes Positives From Ulster Mauling At Hands Of Clermont
Joe McCarthy & Ryan Baird star as Leinster beat La Rochelle
In terms of what changed for Leinster on this occasion in comparison to their previous losses to La Rochelle, it is difficult to ignore the presence of two particular players in the starting XV.
Joe McCarthy and Ryan Baird, neither of whom started last year's final, were key contributors throughout the 80 minutes.
One moment in the first half was particularly telling. As Leinster produced a breakaway attack, it looked as though Will Skelton was about to produce a huge momentum-killing turnover. It was the type of scenario where he has damaged the province so often in the past.
However, just as he latched onto the ball, McCarthy produced a massive ruck clearance to ensure his team kept possession. It was met with a cheer almost as loud as we heard for any of the tries.
The 23-year old was not even part of the matchday squad for last year's Champions Cup final. The difference he made today was clear, helping Leinster negate the dominance of Skelton at the breakdown.
He won a couple of big turnovers over the course of the game, and as Brian O'Driscoll pointed out during the Six Nations, he is the type of player Irish team have often failed to produce in the past.
This game was a clear example of his impact at the highest level.
The same could be said of Ryan Baird. He did play some part in last year's final, coming off the bench for the final 20 minutes.
He was in from the start on this occasion, and like McCarthy, he made his presence felt.
The 24-year old was a nuisance for La Rochelle at the line-out, with his turnover just before halftime a personification of that. In attack, he provided plenty of go forward momentum.
He was rewarded for that with his try just after the interval, with his power on full display.
A superb Ryan Baird try has put Leinster further ahead at the Aviva Stadium.#RTErugby #LEIvSR
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The physical profile of those two players completely transformed the Leinster pack. Whereas they previously struggled to deal with the physicality of La Rochelle, they could now largely match them in that area.
It unlocks a whole new dimension for the Irish province, one they took full advantage of today.
Considering their age profile, it is fair to assume that both McCarthy and Baird will continue to improve over the coming years.
Having showed in this game that they are already world class operators, that makes for an incredibly exciting prospect for both Leinster and Ireland fans.
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