The French outfit beat Leinster 27-26 in Dublin in a repeat of last season's decider to become the fifth club to retain the crown in the competition's 27 years history.
DUBLIN - La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara said on Saturday defending the Champions Cup title was "just the start" for his side.
Leinster, playing in their home city in front of a sold-out Lansdowne Road, crossed for three tries, converting just one, within the opening quarter of an hour."Within 11 minutes it's 17-0 so you're not a long way from getting hosed, which wasn't the plan coming here. Next up for the side from the Atlantic coast is hosting Stade Francais in the Top 14 next Sunday but their place in June's domestic semi-finals is already secured."Out of respect for this competition I don't want to talk about that," O'Gara said.
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