Ronan O’Gara’s features say it all about his disappointment. It won’t be this time for the Irishman and his Rochelais, who were decidedly cursed against Stade Toulousain. The Maritimes were once again defeated by the reigning French champions (35-27) at Ernest-Wallon this Sunday, September 15, on the occasion of the 2nd day of Top 14.
The match turned on the hour mark when Luc Ramos showed Will Skelton a yellow card. The Australian second row, who came on at half-time, had just committed a series of fouls five metres from his goal line. He was given a ten-minute penalty and greatly penalised his team.
As is too often the case, the Rochelais are paying for their indiscipline. In the semi-final last year, they were leading against Toulouse, but ended up exploding, finishing the match with 13 men. This time again, they will have some regrets.
O’Gara’s half-time shake-up
Nothing suggested it after a first half largely in favour of Toulouse (22-10, three tries to one). But Ronan O’Gara’s men – six were replaced at half-time – came back with much better intentions.
And from the 48th minute, the game was largely balanced. Tempers also flared: Julien Marchand was sanctioned by the referee for a gesture that could have been dangerous, which earned him the wrath of the Haut-Garonne public.
Three minutes later, Aleksandre Kuntelia gave the 2022 and 2023 European champions their second try, before Teddy Thomas and Antoine Hastoy’s conversion allowed the Maritimes to take the lead. Until that famous yellow card from Will Skelton and a penalty from Thomas Ramos.
The Rochelais were tenacious and sometimes put too much into the contact against the Toulouse team, who were deprived of Antoine Dupont and Cyril Baille, both in the stands. They committed many more fouls than their opponents and narrowly escaped another refereeing sanction for a sandwich catch on Théo Ntamack.
Stade Toulousain takes control of the Top 14
This new setback for La Rochelle will not improve the complex they seem to suffer from against the French champions. In the last 14 confrontations, they have only won two (against revamped teams) and drawn one.
“Maybe that’s our bugbear,” Ronan O’Gara wondered before the match. “We’ve often given them the solutions to beat us,” the Irish coach also noted. An observation that could very well apply to tonight’s match.
With this success, Stade Toulousain extends its unbeaten streak to 33 games and already sits on the leader’s chair of the Top 14, while La Rochelle is in 10th place. The Maritimes will need much more to hope to challenge them for the Brennus.
With this success, Stade Toulousain also honors the memory of Mehdi Narjissi, a young player from the club who disappeared at sea during a training camp in South Africa with the French U18 team this summer. The public at the Ernest-Wallon stadium, as well as the entire club, warmly applauded him, under the misty eyes of his parents and his sister.
- RMC Sport
Related News :