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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Darragh Culhane

Shane Horgan does not hold back in brutal Leinster assessment after last gasp Champions Cup final loss

Shane Horgan did not hold back when it came to Leinster's stunning last gasp loss in the Champions Cup final as La Rochelle were crowned European Champions.

Ronan O'Gara will be one of the most sought after coaches in the game after the stunning victory and back to back final appearances.

And Horgan did not mince his words as Leinster once again fell at the final hurdle in Europe when appearing on Virgin Media's TV coverage of the game.

Speaking on TV he said: "Devastation for Leinster. "But no doubt La Rochelle deserved to win that game. There was an inevitability to what we saw unfold over the last 10 minutes of that game.

"No nails left on the fingers here. The tension was huge, all of a sudden it felt like an away-day for Leinster, like a home game for La Rochelle.

"Leinster mismanaged that second half in key periods of it, there's no doubt, but La Rochelle played the game in the right place, played with all the territory.

"They had all of the possession, especially in the second half, and as I say it felt like an inevitability because they were definitely carrying into those zones time after time, more physical and more physical and grinding Leinster down.

"At one point you have to give out and that's what Leinster did."

And Horgan clashed with fellow Leinster and Ireland legend Rob Kearney after the loss.

Rob Kearney: "It's the best team they've played against this season. They didn't lose the collision area but they weren't as dominant as they have been throughout the season.

Horgan: "What was the danger, we said before the game, is that Leinster revert to the types of performances we've seen in the last couple of years.

"Particularly last year against La Rochelle in the semi, against Sarries in the quarter and against Sarries in the final. They tighten up a little bit, their shape isn't as sophisticated."

"But it's the opposition putting them under that pressure," Kearney interjected.

Horgan: "It's definitely part of it, but those two things can coincide.

"We saw too many times stationary people taking the ball. How often did we see Tadhg Furlong pulling the ball back? How often did we see Ross Molony pulling the ball back?

"Ultimately, La Rochelle didn't allow them to do it, but they didn't deliver it either."

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