WE HAVE NOTHING TO FLIER

Josh reckons Leinster have everything to gain against nemesis

JOSH VAN DER FLIER argues Leinster have nothing to lose and everything to gain heading into Saturday’s latest duel with La Rochelle.

Fans might be scratching their heads at that one, given that the winner moves on to the Champions Cup semi-finals and the loser is done with the competition for another year.

Indeed, van der Flier and Leinster know all about the pain that Ronan O’gara’s (inset) side have inflicted on them by beating them in the knockout stages in the last three years – including in the last two finals.

The flanker acknowledges that pain was more acute after last year’s decider, given that it was on home soil.

“There was a bit of a compounding effect from the previous year as well,” said van der Flier, thinking back to the narrow defeat in Marseille that preceded last May’s close call.

“Having pretty much all of your loved ones there and everything... we obviously had the good side of it with the Grand Slam and the Six Nations this year with your family there, but it obviously feels like you have let people down sometimes if everyone comes and you don’t perform.

“It was definitely one of the tougher days but I suppose it makes the good times sweeter.”

If Leinster lose out again, it will mean the province’s wait for that fifth star on the jersey will go on for a seventh year at least.

But Van der Flier insisted. “It’s hugely exciting. We have nothing to lose, neither team has anything to lose, there is everything to gain because no one has a hand on the trophy yet.

“You very much have to go and earn it, so that’s our attitude. It’s a good position to be in.”

Leinster, of course, have beaten La Rochelle – and did so in their most recent meeting in December, in the opening pool game of this season’s competition in France.

But the question begs to be asked: are Leinster sick of the sight of the Yellow and Blacks?

Van der Flier said: “You try not to look at it that way but there’s definitely a bit more of... an edge is probably the wrong word, but there’s definitely a bit more to it because they’ve denied us the opportunity to win a couple of trophies.

“But they’ve been fully deserving. They obviously were the best team last year and the year before because they won it. They’ve set the standard that way so it’s exactly the way you’d want it.

“If you’re to win a tournament you always want to have beaten the best teams, so that’s the challenge this week.”