HOUSE OF RUGBY: Leinster’s crushing loss, ROG’s last laugh and big URC Final preview

"We're seen as the little team but that is about to change."

On this week's House of Rugby, it was time to give La Rochelle their proper dues, ask tough questions about Leinster, revel in ROG leaning into the underdog role and to look ahead to Munster's URC Final big day out, in Cape Town. Greg O'Shea, Lindsay Peat and Jason Hennessy pored over the big moments, great plays, yellow and red card calls and tough breaks of the 2023 Champions Cup final. There was also a tunnel flare-up and a bizarre coin toss accusation to dig into. While both versions of the show feature some eerie pre-match comments from Lawrence Dallaglio, the podcast [LISTEN from 52:00 below] also contains some Aviva Stadium reactions from the victorious Ronan O'Gara and Gregory Alldritt, of La Rochelle.

Dallaglio on La Rochelle power and Munster set for URC Final

Ahead of Leinster's Champions Cup final against La Rochelle, at Aviva Stadium, Jason Hennessy spoke with former England and Lions star Lawrence Dallaglio. While Dallaglio felt home advantage gave Leinster the edge, he was on the money when he spoke of La Rochelle's power game.

"For me, if you stop La Rochelle's carrying game, you go a long way towards stopping their momentum. There's one thing saying it, and there's another thing doing it. They are big, big men and there's a lot of these big men." "Losing twice to La Rochelle is bad enough," Dallaglio added. "Losing three times would be, not just a doubt for Leinster but a doubt for Ireland. And I mean this is in the nicest possibly way but this [Leinster] side is effectively the Ireland team, bar one or two. If you can't close this game out, in your home stadium, then you'll start to have doubts when you travel to France."

After a wildly dramatic weekend of rugby, Greg O'Shea, Lindsay Peat and Jason Hennessy were in the House of Rugby studio, and we heard from Dallaglio, Ronan O'Gara and Gregory Alldritt. The team discussed:

(1:00) Jason and Lindsay on the town (3:00) Lawrence Dallaglio tees up final showdown (5:30) - Champions Cup final analysis (26:40) - Respect for ROG and what next for Leinster? (52:00) - Ronan O'Gara and Gregory Alldritt (55:00) - Munster vs Stormers URC final preview

Munster face Stormers at DHL Stadium, in Cape Town from 5:30pm this Saturday, May 27.

WATCH HOUSE OF RUGBY ON THE CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL

Related Articles:

• Leinster vs. La Rochelle: All the talking points, biggest moments and player ratings
• Gregory Alldritt deftly deals with Stuart Barnes question on Ireland's World Cup hopes
• Ronan O'Gara reveals Ireland ambition as more details of tunnel clash emerge
• Garry Ringrose on why Ross Byrne and Leinster did not kick late penalty
• Peter O'Mahony with two best jokes of the night at the Rugby Players Ireland awards

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