Leinster advanced to the knockout stage of the 2017/18 Heineken Champions Cup with a 100%-win record intact, their 23-14 win over Montpellier at the Altrad Stadium being their six successive victory in the pool stage.

The achievement was no mean feat, with Pool 3 featuring Glasgow Warriors and Exeter Chiefs as well as Montpellier, three sides who all finished top of their domestic leagues that season.

Montpellier’s starting XV contained a frightening half-back partnership of Ruan Pienaar and Aaron Cruden, while Leinster named a rested side, with talisman Johnny Sexton not joining the travelling squad.

But it was the visitors who crossed the whitewash on five minutes, Ross Byrne dotting down in the corner after good work from James Lowe.

Montpellier’s response came on 24 minutes as Bismarck Du Plessis benefitted from a driving maul, before Yacouba Camara dived over to give the hosts the lead in the closing minutes of the first half.

Leinster would hit back five minutes after the break though as Robbie Henshaw stepped inside the covering defence for the Irish province’s second try of the game.

Byrne was off target with the conversion but his penalty nudged Leinster two points clear, before Sean Cronin capitalised on a powerful maul to further extend their advantage on 52 minutes.

Leo Cullen’s side ultimately held on for victory as they advanced to the knockout stage with an unblemished record.

Leinster would overcome Saracens and Scarlets to secure their place in the final at San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, where they would edge Racing 92 to clinch their fourth European title.

We’ve revisited Leinster Rugby’s victory over Montpellier Hérault Rugby in the 2017/18 Heineken Champions Cup, with the two sides set to face off once again in this season’s edition of the competition.