Super Leinster finally hit La Rochelle with a knockout blow

• Published date: 15 April 2024
• Publication title: Irish Times (Dublin, Ireland)

If ever there was a line drawn in the sand, it was in those moments, and a fully engaged 51,700 crowd appreciated them. After two trophyless years featuring bitter losses in finals to their new bugbears, the Leinster supporters not only shared their players’ hurt but have bought into the Jacques Nienaber effect as well

Starting with a lineout just inside the Leinster 10-metre line, La Rochelle were driven back just inside their own half through seven phases, obliging Kerr-Barlow to opt for a box kick.

There had been loud cheers at the preceding La Rochelle lineout when they kicked a penalty up the line and went to their catch-and-drive; the destructive Dan Sheehan muscled through the visiting pack to envelop Tolu Latu and completed the steal.

Even after Kerr-Barlow’s kick, La Rochelle countered dangerously through Dillyn Leyds and Teddy Thomas before Jason Jenkins’ scrambling tackle on the scrumhalf led to the rejuvenated Jordan Larmour winning a turnover penalty.

Initially Leinster misfired a tad with the swirling breeze behind them but soon after their attack began to find its rhythm. James Lowe reclaimed a clever cross kick by Jamie Osborne which found grass before eventually running in his first try when Ross Bryne provided the link from a Caelan Doris pull-back.

Unceremoniously dumped

But even in the midst of slightly wild and frenzied multi-phase attack, when Skelton went into jackal mode a large chunk of the home supporters delighted in seeing him being unceremoniously dumped on the turf by Joe McCarthy’s clear-out.

“They get excited by guys coming in with big hits, which is good,” agreed Leo Cullen afterwards. “Tadgh Furlong, at the outset, sort of set the tone by picking up Skelton and driving him back, and putting in a big hit shortly after that as well. And he talked well this week, Tadhg. He showed great leadership.

“It is one thing doing it off the field but doing it on the field is the really important piece so that was a big moment I thought early in the game.”

Back in early December, Nienaber had foretold and forecast that his defensive system would take a specific amount of time to bed in. “It took 14 weeks with Munster, it took 14 games with the Boks when we took over in 2018.”

And so it came to pass, in Leinster’s 13th game and the 14th week since the arrival of the dual World Cup-winning coach, that his team delivered their statement defensive performance to date.

“Jacques has added hugely to the group and continued on the work that...