The surface wounds of a bruising afternoon have long since healed but the thumping bass beats of French celebration still echo in the dark reaches of Leinster heads. 12 months ago in Marseille, the Dublin club were minutes from a fifth Champions Cup crown, but the might of La Rochelle eventually told. As they prepare to reacquaint themselves with familiar foes on European rugby’s biggest stage this weekend, revenge is on the mind.
“When you work with a collective group to try and get somewhere and you fall at the last hurdle, it’s hard, especially when it’s like that, a few minutes from the end of the game,” said Leinster scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park this week.
