IThey will undoubtedly remember it all their lives, even if the result did not live up to their investment (45-26) and their return home took place without the slightest additional point in the standings. Nikolozi Sutidze, Tyreese Leupolu, Simon Huchet, Gabin Garault – 18 years old and invited on the bench at the last second after Quentin Lespiaucq's withdrawal – Charles Kante Samba, Mathis Brunet and others will not forget that their team led for forty -eight minutes on the Félix-Mayol lawn. Above all, they showed that all was not dark for Stade Rochelais, and that the bottle class validated the club's strategy of restricting the pro group.
Alexandre Kaddouri did not lie. “Even if everything will not be perfect, in the desire, we know that we will all be at 110%,” the 21-year-old left pillar swore on Friday. Rémi Tales, in charge of the three-quarters, assured him that the team would seek to gain speed from a third and formidable RCT. Here again, these were not empty words, if we refer to a first act full of nerve this Sunday (10-20). A novelty for Yellow and Black whose actions, too often this season, have not been in agreement with their words.
Another offensive face
La Rochelle is transfigured. By the desire displayed, in the wake of a strongly rejuvenated starting fifteen (25.9 years average age). Where the caravel club was often devoid of niac, this time, its players throw themselves everywhere, go up very quickly and very hard in defense – enough to entangle the Var attack and cause interceptions – and multiply (64 successful tackles , for 5 missed at the break).
To those who wondered if they still knew how to play rugby, they answered in the best possible way
Above all, deprived of all their big players, with the exception of Levani Botia, the Yellow and Black present a completely different offensive face. A necessity, given the identity of the absentees, who do not have clones (Uini Atonio, Will Skelton, Paul Boudehent, Jonathan Danty, etc.). To those, more and more numerous, who wondered if they still knew how to play rugby, they responded in the best possible way, putting a lot of speed, therefore, avoiding as much as possible rucks where they are in pain – as in melee, moreover – and quickly looking for the outside.
I'm already in pattern mode
The match is also marked by the quality of two players not selected by Fabien Galthié for the Tournament. Baptiste Serin, as always on the RCT side, but also Antoine Hastoy among the visitors. As in the play-off, won in this same stadium in June, and on the momentum of his last matches, after a few weeks outside the group, the international fly-half initiates the lethal attacks of his team, following Hoani Bosmorin's try early from the winger (0-7, 4th), then on an intelligently kicked interception for Dillyn Leyds shortly after (0-17, 15th), without forgetting a superb 50-22 in the 62nd.
-The Rade club reacted, often individually, far from the opposing enthusiasm, scoring only on a trickster try and a penalty from Serin (7-17, 23rd, then 10-17, 31st). But while the Béarnais widens the gap after returning from the locker room (10-23, 44th), Esteban Abadie, then Gaël Dréan, two of the six Toulonnais made available to the Varois – when the five Rochelais remained at Marcoussis – find the fault (17-23, 49th; 24-23, 52nd). This time, the Rouge et Noir patiently impose their power (31-23, 60th).
La Rochelle recovers a virtual defensive bonus on a first attack in the opposing camp (31-26, 66th) but the Var solidity hits the mark – enthusiasm cannot do everything –, enough, for once, to recover an offensive bonus (38 -26, 70th; 45-26, 80th+2) which says nothing about the fight fought by Ronan O'Gara's men. The dream has passed, but not the rediscovered pride of a caravel which therefore still has much in its sails. But with 12 points behind the RCT – which is three lengths behind Toulouse and the UBB – and a sixth place threatened by Castres and Montpellier, this has not yet materialized in the ranking.
Notes
7/10 I'm tired.
6/10 Kerr-Barlow, Sutidze, Bosmorin, Leyds.
5/10 Seuteni, Lavault, Favre, Haddad-Victor, Botia.
4/10 Leupolu, Huchet, Nowell, Kaddouri, Kuntelia.
