“Vincent gave a good speech. He was very honest and very clear, all the players agreed with him“, told the Irish coach of the La Rochelle forwards Donnacha Ryan, Friday at a press conference about the words of Vincent Merling, who had little taste of his team’s non-match at Anoeta against Bayonne last weekend. “It was a necessary meeting for us, he was right about those words. It is the pride of our president who has spoken“, said South African winger Dillyn Leyds. “It’s sad for us to see our president like this because he loves this club. It’s the first time I’ve seen him like this but we deserve this“.
While they had fielded a very competitive team in San Sebastián to face Bayonne, the Rochelais missed their point, notably conceding five tries to Rowing. At the end of this defeat, the third row and captain Grégory Alldritt presented “(his) apologies to the supporters who came for a performance like that. It really hurts my heart“.
Grégory Alldritt and the Rochelais took on the water against Bayonne, Saturday October 12, 2024. / Top 14
Credit: Getty Images
“We lost more than one game today“, had engaged his Irish manager Ronan O’Gara. “I am primarily responsible because I am the manager. It’s a dark day, I haven’t experienced that much in eleven years. It’s difficult. Luckily for us, there is another match next week (against UBB). We need our supporters to create a good atmosphere at Deflandre, if they can forgive us after a shitty match“. Shock of the 7th day of Top 14, La Rochelle – Bordeaux-Bègles will be played to a sold-out crowd at the Marcel-Deflandre stadium.
