Ronan O'Gara has led La Rochelle into another Heineken Champions Cup final where Leinster await.
The French side claimed a 20-13 victory against Racing 92 on Sunday to book their place in the decider at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille in two weeks' time.
Nolann Le Garrec opened the scoring for Racing with an early penalty and they scored the first try of the game in the 26th minute when Virimi Vakatawa found a gap in the defence to touch down. Le Garrec added the extras.
La Rochelle worked their way back into the game and Ihaia West’s penalty and Gregory Alldritt’s try made the score 10-8 at the break.
A Le Garrec penalty added another three points for Racing 10 minutes into the second half, but La Rochelle took the lead in the 53rd minute after being awarded a penalty try, with Racing’s Cedate Gomes Sa sent to the sin bin.
West cemented a spot in the final with a try in the 80th minute. La Rochelle are looking to go one better than they did last season when coming up short against Toulouse. On the way to last year's final, O'Gara's side saw off Leinster in the semi-finals, albeit a Blues side without the injured Johnny Sexton.
But Leinster will undoubtedly start as the favourites after their comprehensive victory over Toulouse on Saturday, with Munster legend O'Gara looking to mastermind a victory over his former provincial rival.
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