Leinster shrugged off the absence of star centre Brian O’Driscoll to beat Stade Francais 34-13 on Friday to clinch the European Challenge Cup.
It was the Irish side’s fourth continental title to add to their 2009, 2011 and 2012 European Cup triumphs.
For Stade, it was another story of final heartbreak having lost the 2011 Challenge Cup title match as well as suffering the agony of European Cup final losses in 2001 and 2005.
Leinster, who scored four tries, also became just the fourth team to complete the European Cup-Challenge Cup double.
O’Driscoll had been ruled out with a back injury on the eve of the game.
But fellow British Lion Jonny Sexton shone brightly, being named man of the match for his perfect kicking and game control in a final where the French enjoyed the lions’ share of possession.
“Stade were huge and dominated us physically. They were difficult to overcome,” said Leinster coach Joe Schmidt.
“But at certain times they were not accurate and that helped us.
“We have another match to play this season (against Ulster in the Celtic League final next weekend) so we have to regroup.
“But if you had once said to me that we would win four European titles in five years, I would have signed up for it.”
Defeat for Stade meant that they failed to qualify for next season’s European Cup.
“If Leinster won, it was because they were stronger,” said Stade captain Sergio Parisse.
“We are very, very disappointed because in the first half they scored three tries from their first attacks.”
Leinster, who will conclude their season next weekend when they tackle Ulster in the Celtic League final, were ahead after just three minutes.
Quality lineout ball allowed scrum-half Isaac Boss, playing his 75th European game, to release Kiwi winger Isa Nacewa whose inside pass found Sexton.
The Irish fly-half in turn sent centre Ian Madigan through for the score with Sexton adding the conversion for 7-0.
Boss again created the second try for Leinster on the 20 minute mark.
The 33-year-old unleashed a high kick from the back of the scrum which was gathered by Andrew Conway.
The winger then off-loaded to the supporting prop Sean Cronin who was left unchallenged to score.
Again Sexton had the simplest of conversions for a 14-0 lead.
Stade finally got on the board five minutes later when Jerome Porical popped over a penalty for 14-3.
But it was a brief respite for the French as Sexton then kicked deep for Nacewa, playing in his last season, to gather under pressure before he passed to full-back Rob Kearney for the third try and a 19-3 lead.
Sexton converted from the touchline for 21-3 before Porical kicked a second penalty for Stade to make the score 21-6 at the interval after Leinster were punished for a ruck infringement.
Sexton put his side 24-6 ahead after 54 minutes with his first penalty and then hit the target from the halfway line with another for 27-6.
Stade grabbed their only try after 65 minutes when Hugo Bonneval broke two tackles to feed fellow winger Jeremy Sinzelle for the score.
Jules Plisson added a tricky conversion as Stade cut the deficit to 27-13.
But Leinster celebrated a fourth try two minutes from time when prop Cian Healy barrelled over with Sexton adding the conversion for 34-13.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Following on from Ben Pobjie's great article about positivity, I thought I would put my thoughts down on how Rugby should be promoted as…
Two years after a serious knee injury scuppered Nic Dolly’s hopes of running out for England against his home nation Down Under, the one-Test…
The in-form ACT Brumbies have returned from their bye week raring to go and more mentally switched on than they've been all year, Stephen…
Fijian Drua will try to end the 7-0 streak of the table-topping Hurricanes to kick off a spicy weekend of action that has split…
Four years after getting a taste of international coaching, Geoff Parling will return as the Wallabies’ new lineout coach. The Roar can reveal the…
And then, there were four. Super Rugby Women's enters it's final fortnight, and with the Reds and Rebels campaigns coming to a close, this…
