The Maritimes, in difficulty in the Top 14, launched their campaign in the rugby Champions Cup perfectly, winning against the English of Bath (20-24).
Stade Rochelais, in full doubt in the Top 14 (four defeats in the last six matches), recovered its head perfectly by winning this Friday on the lawn of the English in Bath (20-24), at the opening of the Champions Cup. Ronan O'Gara's players entered the match perfectly, scoring three tries by Jégou (17th), Wardi (26th) and Kerr-Barlow (31st). But Bath, leader of the English championship, found some color after returning from the locker room and scored two tries by Dunn (47th) and Pepper (56th). Under pressure, the Maritimes nevertheless managed to maintain the advantage in the score in an unbreathable end to the match. A good operation before welcoming, next Saturday (9 p.m.), another Premiership resident, Bristol.
La Rochelle, which owed itself a revenge after its non-match against Vannes, bounced back well. “Our group must show its fangs,” announced La Rochelle captain Grégory Allditt in the middle of the week, he was heard, at least during the first act. In this clash between former winners of the event, played under heavy rain and strong wind, the Maritimes were first present in the challenge and effective in the scoring zone before suffering after the break, without however losing their acquired.
And it was deserved, with three entries into the English 22 meters before half-time for three tries at the exit, with a Kiwi hinge Tawera Kerr-Barlow – Ihaia West then excelling in management and occupation. It started with a penalty quickly played by the scrum half 5 meters from the local line, extended forcefully by Oscar Jegou well supported by Uini Atonio (18th). This continued with a furious ball carried over around fifteen meters concluded by Reda Wardi (27th) before Kerr-Barlow in turn went behind the line on a touchline combination (21-6, 32nd). Difficult to do better.
-Bath sometimes lost and lacking in response
Bath, although co-leader of the Premiership, sometimes seemed lost and lacking in response, settling for two penalties from Finn Russell at the break. But pushed by their public on the return, they offered a completely different face – without being brilliant in the game given the conditions – by putting constant pressure on the black and yellow rearguard. As a result, with a penalty followed by a carried ball, Tom Dunn rewarded his team (48th).
The caravel players, then deprived of ammunition in touch, lost track again after a penalty from West on the post, Kerr-Barlow poorly flattening a fleeing ball in his in-goal, unlike Guy Pepper (57th, 20-21). But instead of finally cracking, Ronan O'Gara's men reminded that they know how to travel on the European scene (9 victories in their last 11 trips), mastering Bath in the ground game in particular by recovering a penalty this time converted by West before scratching a ball by Levani Botia (78th) which definitively extinguished the English hopes of going ahead in the score.
