This Sunday evening, La Rochelle won against Union Bordeaux-Bègles in Deflandre. A final victory with a score of 32-22 for the Maritimes, thanks in particular to a one-sided first period. Ronan O’Gara’s men react after their heavy defeat against Bayonne. The Bordelo-Béglais, who played 50 minutes with fourteen players, left empty-handed.
Marcel-Deflandre put on his bright clothes for a great evening in front of the shooting stars. On a cloud, Bordeaux-Bègles, after winning in Toulouse, was it going to strike another blow away despite the absences of Lucu and Jalibert? Broken down at Anoeta, which earned a refocusing from President Vincent Merling, was Stade Rochelais going to show a burst of pride? So many questions, and so much excitement at the same time, notably with a South African-style bench on the Girondins side (seven forwards for one back).
At the end of this shock, marked by numerous warnings and Yoram Moefana’s red card, La Rochelle beat Bordeaux-Bègles (32-22). Overall, each team will have had its period: the Maritimes were sparkling in the first act, the Bordelo-Béglais responded in the second. With these four more points in the standings, Alldritt’s teammates regain their place on the Top 14 podium (3rd, 22 points), just behind UBB (2nd, 23 points). The Girondins leave the throne to Toulouse (1st, 24 points).
Thomas produced a festival, Moefana saw red
At the start of the season, La Rochelle announced that its game would tend a little more towards its three-quarters. This meeting was perfect proof of that. From the outset, the O’Gara gang put a lot of volume, notably with numerous passes after contact between the forwards and the three-quarters. Following a long preparatory work, Leyds found the key thanks to a superb diagonal towards Thomas. The center had cleared the play well on the left wing (5-0, 7th).
In a difficult first period, where Vergnes Taillefer (12th) and Cancoriet were warned (12th) for dangerous collisions, the Maritimes did not loosen the grip, despite Garcia’s reduction in the gap (5-3, 8th). Hastoy restored order with points at the foot (8-3, 16th). Comfortable in conquest, notably with two penalties collected in scrums, the Yellow and Black outrageously dominated the battle for territory. Clever, they once again deceived the Gironde defense through a reversal of direction. With the number 13 at his back, Thomas moved this time to the right wing. Nowell played behind his back for Dulin. The rear carried, fixed before offering a decisive pass towards the former member of Racing 92 (15-3, 17th).
After a new penalty from Antoine Hastoy (18-3, 26th), this shock took a new turn. Guilty of a head-to-head collision on Danty, Moefana was sent off (34th). Outnumbered and undisciplined (11 fouls in the first 40 minutes), UBB faltered once again before the break. La Rochelle brought a better touch to this first reference period with a first-hand test. On a scrum in the center of the field, ten meters from the opposing goal, Kerr Barlow went to the left side. Hastoy attacked the line, straightened the race, before serving Dulin behind his back (25-3, 39th).
Matiu broke the screen among the finishers
Upon returning from the locker room, Bordeaux-Bègles changed its face. The visitors were pushed into the positive by the contribution of the bench. At the end of a long-term movement, with more than ten phases of play, Gazzotti found a gap in the axis following a succession of passes after contact. In support, Retière ensured continuity in meaning. Uberti deceived Dulin with a fake pass before diving into a corner (25-10, 45th). At the same tempo, the UBB put the Rochelais on the ropes. On a penalty played by hand, five meters from the opposing goal, Lamothe set a ruck. Served in the axis, Samu initiated a reversal of direction through a cross with Matiu. The third line resisted Atonio (25-15, 52nd).
The UBB’s crazy comeback was cut short due to Dulin’s malice. Garcia isolated himself on a follow-up kick from the same Dulin. Sanctioned, the opener kept the ball on the ground. The full-back played the penalty with his hand, five meters away, to score as a trickster (32-15, 56th). Enough to relaunch the race for the offensive bonus? It didn’t happen. The locals were too undisciplined (14 faults in total, compared to 17 for UBB). In turn, for a repetition of faults, Douglas (63rd) and Leyds (72nd) received a warning. In numerical superiority, Temo Matiu took advantage of a forward on his goal line from Penverne to score a double (32-22, 74th).
Next week, in the middle of the afternoon, La Rochelle will travel to GGL Stadium to challenge Montpellier. At the same time, Jalibert’s partners will welcome Pau to Chaban-Delmas.
