La Rochelle's second try was the moment that turned the Heineken Champions Cup final, according to CJ Stander.
Leinster shot into a 17-point lead in the 12th minute and were 23-7 up with two minutes remaining in the first half.
Ronan O’Gara’s side then worked 12 phases inside the opposition half before centre UJ Seuteni found a gap and dashed over.
The conversion made it a nine-point game and handed the impetus to the visitors, who won 27-26 to retain their title.
"That try that La Rochelle scored just before half-time, it gave them that energy to come back," former Ireland back row CJ Stander, who was at the game in Dublin, told RTÉ Sport.
Game on at Lansdowne Road.
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) May 20, 2023
HALF-TIME: 23-14 to Leinster
UJ Seuteni trots over after the La Rochelle attack patiently worked an opening#LEIvSR
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"Then, stopping them from getting metres. In the first 20 minutes, Leinster were getting one, two, three, four, five yards every time they carried the ball and La Rochelle were on the back foot.
"Then [La Rochelle] scored that try just before half-time and got pulled into the changing room and ROG probably gave them a good hiding and said, 'look, lads, go out there and play the way you normally play’.
"Leinster scored three points in the second half so, yeah, that was the big difference for me."
Stander, who played with Munster between 2012 and 2021, was speaking at a BKT United Rugby Championship media event via Zoom ahead of Saturday's final between his former team and the DHL Stormers.
Graham Rowntree’s men beat Glasgow and Leinster away in the play-offs to date, accounting for Leo Cullen’s side nine days ago minus Conor Murray, RG Snyman, Calvin Nash and Malakai Fekitoa, who all suffered head injuries in the quarter-final.
However, all four have been cleared for action this weekend, while Ben Healy and Jean Kleyn, both injured against Leinster, are going through the return-to-play protocols.
"When I saw that list of players getting on to the plane, it was good to see, especially guys like Conor Murray, RG and Malakai," added the 33-year-old South African, who won 51 Ireland caps.
"It brings a boost to the squad. You see the energy that Munster have got in the last few weeks from beating the Stormers in Cape Town and then going to Dublin and beating Leinster.
"It’s going to be a cracking final, I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully it will be a bit wet, then Munster will have the upper hand, but we’ll see."
Meanwhile, Munster have confirmed that Thomond Park will host a double-header against the Barbarians on 30 September.
The women's team, current inter-pro champions, will kick off proceedings at 2pm against the Barbarian's women side, who made their first-ever appearance against the same opposition in 2017 at the Limerick venue.
The men's game kicks off at 4.30pm.
