Leinster rid the ghosts of their past vs Champions Cup holders La Rochelle, emphatically beating Ronan O'Gara's charges 40-13.
France centre Jonathan Danty will miss the rest of his country's Six Nations campaign including matches against Wales and England after being given a five-week ban.
Sale dropped into the Challenge Cup after being brushed aside by La Rochelle as the French giants kept alive their bid for a hat-trick of Champions Cup titles.
Clinical Ulster secured a big victory against Racing 92 in the Champions Cup while Bath edged out Cardiff and holders La Rochelle lost again.
Leinster beat defending champions La Rochelle at the fourth time of asking, battling to a 16-9 away Champions Cup win in dreadful conditions.
A magnificent comeback from 17 points down saw La Rochelle become back-to-back Champions Cup winners vs Leinster 27-26 in Dublin.
Recap all the updates from Saturday's 2023 Heineken Champions Cup final between Leinster and La Rochelle in Dublin.
Defending Champions Cup holders La Rochelle set up a repeat of last year's final against Leinster with a 47-28 win against Exeter in Bordeaux.