Jamison Gibson-Park believes Leinster are in a better place going into this year's Champions Cup final than last May.
Having beaten Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium, the province will end up facing La Rochelle for a third year running in the decider on May 20 if Ronan O'Gara's side overcome Exeter Chiefs in tomorrow's semi-final.
La Rochelle prevailed against Leinster in the 2021 semi-final before winning last year's Marseilles decider with a late try.
READ MORE: Leinster book Champions Cup final berth with win over Toulouse at the Aviva Stadium
“They have obviously got the better of us," said Gibson-Park. "Whenever you think of it (last year) it seems like the one that got away a little bit. They were obviously very good on the day and probably deserved winners in the end.
The scrum-half feels Leinster have learned the painful lessons from those defeats.
“Yeah, I think so," he said. "A lot of individuals have come on a long way since this time last year.
"Obviously it’s down to a lot of hard work but I think for sure, we are in a better place than we were last year.
“Our game-plan has evolved in certain areas. We have obviously had Goody (Andrew Goodman) come in, he has been pretty unreal in terms of our set-piece strike and things. Areas like that have certainly come on.
“The individual thing is pretty massive as well. The more we improve as individuals, the better we will be as a team.
"Ross (Byrne) is great with the detail and he drives a lot of that during the week. It’s not just him, it’s right across the board.
“We have got an incredible group of leadership guys. They do an awesome job in terms of putting our plan together with the coaches.
“I’m not involved in that group so much, but for sure, I do my part in meetings and that kind of thing. It’s probably an area I’ve come on in.
“It was tough going. Toulouse are obviously a great side who play a pretty attractive brand as well. It was different preparation.
“I think the first-half performance was pretty good. We were pretty patchy I think in the second-half, a little bit of that is down to the weather probably, it started to lash. But overall, it was pretty good."
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