🏉 That start & that finish
🏉 More injuries
🏉 More ill discipline
🏉 Breakdown decisions
🏉 Vintage visitors
THIS WEEK’S GUEST
FULL TIME TAKES
Sheena Crean
A super match to attend, havent witnessed that atmos in the aviva in quite some time, but left feeling Leinster’s attack is soulless. Defensively strong but lacking ideas elsewhere. Joshua Kenny is a very exciting prospect, would be super to see him start a 6N game- maybe v Wales so that he doesnt get the same level of pressure overload that appears to be destroying SP (or perhaps SP simply isnt good enough, time will tell)
Eamon Saunders
That was close but great performance from Leinster considering we had so many big names missing
Cormac Mannion
Yet again we score early and then fail to do so for a huge chunk of the match. Gotta admire the grit but our ball presentation going into contact, our breakdown work and our ruck defence are utter garbage at the moment.
Fair play to JJ, he’s really growing into the role and it’s brilliant to see him and TOB burning players with sheer speed.
The third and fourth tries were great to see, pure instinct and well worked through the hands.
Balls of steel for Harry to nail that final kick but quite telling that Sam handed the ball to him.
La Rochelle wil be kicking themselves though. They butchered two certain tries
Conor Cronin
I’ll be doing a rewatch tomorrow before I judge this game completely, but I will say that from my seat it seemed like the ref had more impact on this game than he should have, and our choice to not go for points at 12-0 could’ve returned to catch us out, it would’ve put us 3 scores ahead and had an impact on their attitude to the game. Game management and captain decisions need a little attention for tight games like this
Vincent Duggan
Leinster lucky to get away with this one. La Rochell butchered 3 try attempts. Carley is an international standard ref he pulled Leinster for all the stuff they get away with in the URC, killing the ball a the breakdown and offside in midfield. Prendergast was responsible for two tries because of his inability to defend. Leinster were cut apart in midfield.
Tom Clarke
Given the injuries and then the injuries in the game that was a great win. A lot to work on defensively but the lads showed great fight and resilience.
Andrew Byrne
Looks like our depth at prop is better than we all thought. Fair play to Jerry Cahir off the bench, did a great job when he came on.
Billy Glynn
Two men playing their first H Cup two tries from kenny and brilliant from jerry Cahir AIL to H Cup 👏 great win with a bonus point can’t complain really.
Keith Bruce
Great game, La Rochelle didn’t take their chances and should have overrun Ireland, not looking good for Leinster in the six nations.
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CHAMPIONS CUP WRAP
Round 3
Castres 20–43 Bath
Edinburgh 26–24 Gloucester
Bulls 49–61 Bristol Bears
Clermont 21–33 Glasgow Warriors
Leinster 25–24 Stade Rochelais
Sale Sharks 26–10 Hollywoodbets Sharks
Scarlets 38–47 Pau
Leicester Tigers 57–14 Bayonne
Harlequins 61–10 Stormers
Toulon 27–25 Munster
Bordeaux 50–28 Northampton Saints
Saracens 20-14 Toulouse
Round 4
Friday 16 January 2026
Pau v Bulls
Bath v Edinburgh
Saturday 17 January 2026
Sharks v Clermont
Bayonne v Leinster
Stormers v Leicester
Toulouse v Sale
Munster v Castres
Gloucester v Toulon
Sunday 18 January 2026
Bristol v Bordeaux
Northampton v Scarlets
La Rochelle v Harlequins
Glasgow v Saracens
NEXT HARPIN’
TUESDAY
BONUS CHAT : “Final round permutations” (YouTube)
WEDNESDAY
80+ COLUMN (Substack)
HARPIN' ON RUGBY 