Leinster v La Rochelle: Winners and losers as ‘ridiculous’ forward drops ‘reminder of greatness’ while Ireland sweat over key injuries
Levani Botia (left) and Caelan Doris (right) were among the key winners from Leinster's win over La Rochelle
Following Leinster’s 25-24 win over La Rochelle at the Aviva Stadium in the Investec Champions Cup, here are our winners and losers.
Winners
Sam Prendergast
As mentioned in the player ratings, there was a lot of pressure on Sam Prendergast to deliver. He has found himself swapping in and out with Harry Byrne at fly-half in recent outings, but he could have positioned himself in pole position once again after this display. Leinster’s attack seemed to be that bit faster, that bit more intense, that bit zippier tonight than it has in the past month, and a lot of that can be placed on Prendergast. He was always looking to take the line on, which then created space just outside him for the likes of Robbie Henshaw and Tommy O’Brien to waltz through.
Around that, he also showed some nice game management, particularly with his boot. When he went to kick, too, he would often sit back deeper and allow the play to unfold around him for that little bit extra time, which then allowed him to scan the pitch to find spaces rather than just kicking for the sake of it.
His defensive side of the ball, while missing five tackles, also showed marked improvement. His turnover late in the day was so crucial in stopping La Rochelle from taking the game away from Leinster in those final exchanges, which came moments after another strong read as well.
This performance will have certainly impressed the on-looking Andy Farrell, too, ahead of the Six Nations.
Levani Botia
A genuine reminder of his greatness, with the Fijian powerhouse absolutely deserving of the Man of the Match award. The back-rower was simply ridiculous all night long, on both sides of the ball. He was his side’s chief threat in attack, making 84 metres from his 13 alongside a tally of four defenders beaten, and matched that with a team-high 13 tackles too. He was also at the peak of his powers in the breakdown, notching three turnovers.
It says something about the way you’ve played when you win Man of the Match in the losing side, even with the performances of the winners also meriting it as well.
Simply, and utterly, ridiculous.
Leinster’s tag-team
The Fijian ace might have shone, but he wasn’t the only back-rower to impress either, with the tag-team of Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris both excelling. As individuals, both men really took the game to La Rochelle, standing up in pivotal moments to get their side over the line come the final whistle, but it was their combined efforts that get them into this list.
They went hunting like a pack of wolves, sniffing out breakdowns and tackles like it was their prey. They were unrelenting, barbaric at times, and brutal in their efforts, with the powerful French outfit eventually caving in.
This combination, performing like this on the eve of the Six Nations, will only please Ireland boss Farrell ahead of next month’s Six Nations. Van der Flier and Doris are expected to play a key role yet again for Farrell’s men in green, but this is a sign that they mean business.
Nolann le Garrec
A spot of cramp in the final moments robbed him of an 80-minute shift, but he was simply excellent for the 77 minutes he was on the field. Everything seemed to run through him, be it his expert marshalling of the monstrous pack, the injection of pace to get his backline purring or controlling things with the boot; he was at the heart of his side’s impressive comeback.
The scrum-half faces a daunting task to get into the France starting XV, given Antoine Dupont is back up and running now, but with Maxime Lucu expected to be out of the opening rounds, this performance could force Fabien Galthie’s hand to include him somewhere in the 23 come the opening round.
Investec Champions Cup
The competition as a whole has certainly seen better days, but games like this prove the magic of Europe has not faded just yet. It had all the hallmarks of a final, eerily reminiscent of the Leinster v La Rochelle deciders of 2022 and 2023, but it came in the pool stage and it has left everyone wanting more.
This game had everything. Bloody faces, sexy tries, crunching tackles, a proper scrum battle and, after all that, a fittingly gripping ending.
The Investec Champions Cup has the power to deliver moments unmatched in any domestic competition, maybe even among other sports too, and this was certainly one of the great spectacles.
Losers
Ciaran Frawley
He actually started the game really brightly, particularly in attack as he notched five carries for 21 metres alongside an assist, but he came off early into the day with a leg injury. This will really frustrate the Connacht-bound back, given he was starting to hit his straps once again after a tricky spell of form last year, and could leave him in a race against time for the Six Nations.
Paddy McCarthy
Like his club and international teammate, he came off with a knock and could now be in doubt for the Six Nations. This injury also furthers Leo Cullen’s front-row woes at the minute, with them already pretty threadbare in this department.
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