Heckled, clumsy and undisciplined, the Rochelais had all the trouble in the world to overcome young Toulouse, valiant and eye-catching, this Saturday evening (22-19). In front of a Marcel-Deflandre stadium which was celebrating a hundredth consecutive match with wickets, the Maritimes were not really celebrating and were saved by the boot of Antoine Hastoy in the final seconds.
At Marcel-Deflandre, this Saturday evening, there was ultimately more spectacle before this meeting than during. Facing a significantly younger Toulouse team – 21.6 years average age for the starting fifteen – Les Rochelais stammered their rugby for 80 minutes. Upset by the aggressiveness and nerve of the visitors, the Maritimes owe their salvation only to a penalty from Antoine Hastoy on the siren (22-19).
A party without fireworks
Unlike Deflandre, who had put on his bright clothes for the occasion, the Rochelais were slow to enter their game, very upset by the willing and generous Toulouse residents. Under pressure, however, the visitors eventually gave in. After a recovery in the ground game, Simon Daroque is countered by Oscar Jégou when clearing the leather. The third line continues his effort, recovers the ball and then transmits it to Tolu Latou who scores the first try of this game (14th). A cruel realization which does not undermine the determination of the people of Toulouse.
In a suspenseful encounter, La Rochelle won without shining against an extremely rejuvenated Toulouse team (19-16). Stade Rochelais relied on a final penalty from Antoine Hastoy at the siren.
The match film > https://t.co/3aPdlGtksL pic.twitter.com/VOmKbKncMY
— RUGBYRAMA (@RugbyramaFR) https://twitter.com/RugbyramaFR/status/1875665645339340952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Cyril Baille and his young gang even manage to hold the ball and push the Rochelais to make a mistake. A strategy which allows Valentin Delpy to pass three penalties to place the Haut-Garonnais in the lead (20e27e et 35e). Frustrated, and no doubt frustrating for the Charente public, Grégory Alldritt and his partners play the game just before the siren. Perfectly arriving at height, Oscar Jégou tears the Toulouse defensive curtain and goes behind the line (38e). Ihaia West transforms and La Rochelle returns to the locker room with only three points in advance (12-9).
Without Hastoy, the party is less crazy
No doubt reframed by Ronan O'Gara at the break, the Rochelais begin this second act with their feet on the floor. After an interminable sequence of scrums – more than five minutes – at the end of which the Rochelais left empty-handed, Paul Boudehent finally thought he had found the fault but saw his try refused for not having released the ball after passing to the ground (50e). In the process, Latu receives a yellow card following a dangerous clearance on Simon Daroque (51e). The visitors take advantage of this numerical superiority to let the storm pass. A fairly short respite since La Rochelle accelerates again a few minutes later. Tawera Kerr-Barlow quickly plays a penalty and sneaks into the goal to plant the third try for the Maritimes (63e). With an offensive bonus temporarily in their pocket, the Rochelais then save the essentials, or so we think. Entered at the break, Sialevailea Tolofua, for his first in the Top 14, finds himself at the conclusion of a Toulouse ball carried and restarts this game (70e). Thanks to a lightning acceleration from Nelson Épée and a drop, full of authority, from Delpy in the process (77e), the visitors even come back tied. Finally, with forceps, the Maritimes snatched a final penalty which Hastoy converted to save his team from terrible disillusionment (22-19, 80e + 2).
With this short success, Brice Dulin and his gang retain their place in the six but emerge from this part with more doubts than certainties. Especially since another big game awaits the Rochelais in Deflandre next week: Leinster. The Toulouse players leave with an unexpected defensive bonus point and extra confidence before moving to the Sharks.
