Leinster march on to face old foes
The Rugby Paper|April 07, 2024
LEINSTER weren't at their very best but with Jamison Gibson-Park claiming a hat-trick this win sets up another mouthwatering tie with old foes La Rochelle who have beaten the Irish outfit in the last two Champions Cup finals.
BRENDAN GALLAGHER
Leinster march on to face old foes

Leicester might have been rank outsiders for this title but they started strongly and after intense pressure, Handre Pollard swerved onto a popped ball and held off two tacklers to score by the posts.

Leinster hit back quickly with a simple penalty from Ross Byrne and then the Leinster attack started to crank up ominously, a wondrous long pass from James Lowe bringing the energy and buzz. Moments later Big Joe McCarthy allegedly enduring an end of season dip according to some critics - powered down the left flank before releasing Gibson-Park on the inside for a clinically taken try.

Freddie Steward, playing on the wing, gobbled up the first two high balls launched in his direction but he found a low skudder in fact a miss kick from Hugo Keenan - much more difficult and made a poor effort to field a ball he should have left well alone.

Leicester didn't get the release of pressure they were looking for and suddenly they were defending again.

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