It was only a pool win and La Rochelle can undoubtedly still live to fight another day, but few away wins can have been as hard-earned, as rewarding, or as significant as Leinster’s tense 16-14 win in the Stade Deflandre on Sunday.
But after the Deflandre had been deflated by Leinster’s defiance, Ronan O’Gara struck a defiant note of his own.
“Congratulations to Leinster, they’re better but I hope we get another crack later in the season because our boys can do better and will do better.”
‘I’ve been involved a lot in turnarounds’: Michael Cheika on his coaching philosophy and career to date
Leinster moved three points clear of La Rochelle at the top of Pool 2 of the Champions Cup and secured qualification for the Round of 16. But the big prize of securing home advantage all the way through the knock-out stages to the final can be ensured by beating Bath at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday evening, especially with a bonus point.
“Well, that was the big carrot,” admitted Ronan O’Gara after his side were denied by Josh van der Flier’s charge down of Antoine Hastoy’s drop goal attempt and Leinster’s ensuing 20-phase last stand.
“We’re going to be fighting for as many points as we can. Obviously if Leinster can get five points next week they going to finish second [in the seedings] behind Bordeaux and that means they’re in the Aviva for as long as they can be. That’s exactly what you’re trying to control, the same as me today. I wanted to be at the Deflandre for the rest of the season.”
For his part, Leo Cullen kept his emotions intact when commenting: “We’ll enjoy tonight, travel back and try and recover well and get ready for a game in six days’ time because it is a pool, not a knock-out, and the last thing we want to do is undo the great work of today’s performance and put in a proper performance in front of our own fans.
“It was amazing to see so many blue fans there today when we get off the bus, so hopefully we see a big crowd at the Aviva on Saturday.
La Rochelle can secure a home Round of 16 tie by finishing second in the pool and a second tier seeding by winning in Treviso next Saturday. That would at least ensure a home Round of 16 tie, which is the minimum O’Gara wants to achieve.
“Yeah, exactly, because we love this competition. It’s connected a town, so there’s life left in us, that’s for sure.”
After a difficult season heretofore, this was La Rochelle’s best performance of the campaign so far.
“Yeah, we needed that because we’ve been talking enough but the performances haven’t been there. Some of these poor French journalists have to suffer watching some of the shite in the Top 14 games which hasn’t been good but now I think that will give a jolt to everyone, the town and the team, because essentially nothing is lost. We’re disappointed but nothing is lost.
“Home advantage is big too,” O’Gara added. “We’ve got to be really disappointed with losing at home. It’s not a crushing defeat, but it’s still a big defeat.”
O’Gara struck his own note of defiance when asked if Leinster are better this season.
“I think they’re definitely harder to play against, but are they better? We’ll see in May.”
But he also admitted: “You look at the final in Dublin and not many Test teams can do what they did in 11 minutes. We didn’t do much wrong and we’re 17-0 down. Plus they’ve Dan Sheehan to come back who I think is one of the world’s best players. Speed kills and he kills teams on his own.”
On Saturday, Munster and Saracens rolled up their sleeves and rolled back the years at Thomond Park. Neither may be the force of yore but there was something decidedly old school about Munster’s 17-12 win as they recovered from a 9-3 deficit early in the second half.
Northampton’s 45-25 defeat away to Stade Francais along with Castres’ 49-10 win over the Bulls has turned Pool 3 into a four-way fight for first and second place, and hence home ties in Round of 16.
Munster sit second, a point behind Northampton, and fractionally ahead of Saracens on points difference ahead of next week’s concluding pool matches. The Irish province return to Northampton, where they exited in the Round of 16 last season, next Saturday afternoon, 24 hours before Saracens host Castres.
“I was surprised to hear Northampton were beaten and only picked up a point so we’re a point off the top,” admitted interim head coach Ian Costello.
“I suppose it puts it in our hands to a certain degree. We’ve got to assume Saracens will get five, I think that would be likely for their last game, at home. So we’ve got to go, first of all, go and try and win the game at Northampton and then there’s a good chance that gives us a home Round of 16, or it will. So if we top the group the seeding can be important as well.
“I don’t think it will be 6-3 at Northampton,” added Costello in reference to the half-time score against Saracens. “I don’t think there will be a lack of tries so the team that wins will have to score a few tries as well.”
After their 38-10 defeat in Leicester to leave them on zero points, Ulster have effectively been consigned to playoff for a place in the Challenge Cup when they host Exeter in Belfast next Friday night.
At the same time, Connacht take on Cardiff in the Arms Park knowing they have already topped Pool 1 in the Challenge Cup after their 52-24 win over Lyon on Saturday, although they can still secure a first or second seeding in the Round of 16 with another win.
- Sign up for push alerts and have the best news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone
- Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date
- Listen to the Counter Ruck podcast for the best rugby chat and analysis
