Beneath the beautiful curving roof of this spectacular stadium the question was whether Leinster could graduate as the modern masters of the European game. For some time they have been on a mission to secure a record-equalling fifth Champions Cup title and for almost 79 minutes the stage seemed set to complete their grand design.
And then, right at the last, it all fell apart. After what felt like several years of concerted La Rochelle forward pressure the ball arrived in the hands of their reserve scrum-half Arthur Retière, one of the smaller men on the field. He stumbled at first but recovered his poise and stretched just far enough to touch the line and deliver the ultimate European prize to the Atlantic Coast for the first time.
