We are now deep into the era of top-end trolling from Leinster

Leinster v Northampton Saints gets the 5.30 on a Saturday slot. Interesting to see what sort of crowd they get at Croker

That's the end of non-Leinster Irish interest in Europe this season. Hard to escape the sense that Munster, Ulster and Connacht are losing ground as others are making strides. Ulster and Connacht in a real battle to make URC top 8 & Champions Cup next year

Here's Ronan O'Gara's take on La Rochelle's heavy defeat to Leinster:

'Well done to Leinster, they had a good plan, they executed it well and they kept us at arms length quite comfortably throughout the 80 minutes.'

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Leinster will face Northampton Saints at Croke Park in three weeks' time - fixture and ticket details due next week from EPCR

Having been stretchered off, Tawera Kerr Barlow is up, talking in the dressing-room according to O'Gara

Ronan O'Gara says it's easier to move on after that one - 'a small bit of cop on, you could see the dominant team was in blue', says the Ryan Baird try was the key moment

The kind of closure 52,000 therapy sessions couldn't buy. A night of catharsis for Leinster and their fans, but the job isn't done just yet as Croke Park beckons

A piece on how they broke a tired La Rochelle's stranglehold at Lansdowne Road 🔽

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This has been Dan Sheehan's best game for ages, Ryan Baird has called the lineout really well - Leinster's pack has really been excellent

A tighter game might serve La Rochelle better, the Leinster defence is able for everything they've thrown at them so far - they didn't become desperate in 2022 or 2023, but they're pushing things early now

This looks like a really serious injury, Leinster doctor John Ryan helping out and James Lowe checking on Kerr Barlow who is being carefully lifted on to the stretcher

Ross Byrne gets absolutely rinsed by UJ Seutin, cops an elbow off James Lowe and gets up to start the move that leads to the try that should break La Rochelle who are about to lose Tawera Kerr Barlow to boot

Ihaia West is on for La Rochelle, Dillyn Leyds not returning

No changes for Leinster

That was some decision and execution from La Rochelle - Tolu Latu absolutely nails the throw to the tail and they punish the Leinster decision to go to the air. Somehow they're only 10 points down and they've yet to start playing and have the wind 2nd half

Huge swing on Karl Dickson's decision to go back for the scrum after James Lowe kicked it dead on penalty advantage - instead of a scrum in Leinster's 22, La Rochelle find themselves 23-6 down

Leinster 17 points up again, nothing could possibly go wrong

Looks like the travel has caught up with La Rochelle - Leinster have all the energy and momentum, just need to make it count on the scoreboard

‘Leinster are in the way of where we want to get to... immortality’

Spent an hour with Ronan O’Gara yesterday morning, talking La Rochelle's unity & mentality, why it's about more than fine margins, a future Ireland and why he relates to Jurgen Klopp ⬇️

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Hearing Hugo Keenan may be ruled out for Leinster today.

Ciarán Frawley on standby to start, Harry Byrne would come on to the bench.

A piece on what makes La Rochelle the ultimate test in club rugby.

Pace, power, skill and a diverse squad with a ruthless winning mentality - fascinated to see how Leinster lean on Jacques Nienaber’s influence today.

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Leo Cullen: “There seems to be a bit of a Cork bandwagon. The mafia have jumped on to the bandwagon along with La Rochelle.... You’d love it if all of Ireland got behind you, but we know that's not how it works'

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