Irregular all season, the Rochelais were able to raise their level for this play-off match and brought back a huge victory for Mayol (29-34). Like his team, Antoine Hastoy undoubtedly produced his best performance of the year. Oscar Jégou has been everywhere. Maëlan Rabut completely missed his match.
The Toulon notes in detail:
4. Ribbons: 4/10
Often praised, the English second line had a great season. But for his first knockout match in Var he did not know how to rise to the level of the event. He never knew how to weigh on the Maritime defense and sometimes seemed inside physically. On the action of Favre’s try, he was completely overtaken by Hastoy who broke through to the heart of the field. Penalized for a crude dive in a ruck, he cost his team three new points.
10. Garbisi: 4/10
Arriving in Var during the season, the Italian has often relieved the Toulonnais. But in the barrage against La Rochelle he was unable to lead the RCT truck. He had a lot of desire and it showed from the start of the match, he tried a lot, sometimes too much. Like on this restart that he starts from 22 meters where he is penalized. An action which will lead to Jegou’s trial. While the Rouge et Noir could still hope to get back together, a penalty was missed and in a way jeopardized the last hopes of the Var.
12. Rabut: 3/10
On Hastoy’s try, he was completely sucked in by Leyds’ call and let the Rochelais slip behind the line. He is unable to recover from an encounter that he will endure from start to finish. He costs another three points for an avoidable foul in a ruck. The locker room did not give him any advice and he attacked his second half like the first. Passive, he lets himself be fooled by a penalty which hits the post and is overtaken by Jegou who just has to flatten. In attack, he didn’t have much of the leather in his hands, but never knew what to do with it, he only covered 9 meters with it. Replaced in the 56th minute by Dan Biggar, he completely missed his match.
The rest of the notes from Toulon:
- 1. Big: 4/10
- 2. Baubigny: 5/10
- 3. Gigashvili: 4/10
- 5. Alainu’uese: 3/10
- 6. Du Preez: 4/10
- 7. Ollivon: 5/10
- 8. Isa: 4/10
- 9. Canary: 4/10
- 11. Villière: 5/10
- 13. Fainga’anuku: 3.5/10
- 14. Tuicuvu: 5/10
- 15. Jaminet: 5/10
La Rochelle notes in detail:
7. Oscar Jégou 9/10
The U20 world champion was flamboyant on the Mayol pitch. Main option of the La Rochelle sideline, he was very comfortable during the exercise, even stealing an opponent’s ammunition. He also stood out for his intelligence of the game. He followed his three-quarters perfectly, on a “50-22” found by Seuteni and quickly played by Nowell. His post-contact pass for Hastoy led to Leyds’ try. A few minutes later, he stood out with a new “offload” for his opener. Favre scored some minutes later. His performance was rewarded with an opportunistic try, recovering the ball after a missed penalty from Hastoy. In defense, Jégou was everywhere. He finished with twenty tackles (best tackler of the match) and notably participated in a huge counter-ruck (45th). A very high quality match.
10. Antoine Hastoy 8/10
The opener had to provide a response after his lackluster season. He didn’t do it half-heartedly, putting in a big match. With serenity, he masterfully led his team’s game. His sharp and inspired runs often hurt the Toulon defense. He scored the first try of the game by making good use of Leyds’ call inside. Later, he offered his South African winger a try on a plate. His foot pass for the same Leyds would have deserved better (36th). His breakthrough in the center of the field led to Favre’s try. Valuable against the poles (5/6), his only failure (post) led to Jégou’s try. He was successful but he knew how to provoke his luck.
11. Dillyn Leyds 7.5/10
He was the first to set the Toulon defense on fire, playing a judicious kick into the empty space on his wing, before tackling Rabut in his in-goal (8th). On the next action, his inside run made the Toulon defense hesitate and allowed Hastoy to score. His big defensive return on Rabut, who was trying, was of great importance (21st). Leyds scored a try while lying in wait after Seuteni’s “50-22”, quickly played by Nowell. He was also decisive on Jégou’s try, deflecting the ball for his third line. A strong man from La Rochelle, undoubtedly.
The rest of the notes from La Rochelle:
- 1. Reda Wardi: 4/10
- 2. Tolu Latu: 5/10
- 3. Uini Atonio: 5/10
- 4. Rémi Picquette: 5/10
- 5. Will Skelton 5.5/10
- 6. Judicaël Cancoriet 5/10
- 8. Grégory Alldritt 6.5/10
- 9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow 5/10
- 12. Jules Favre 6/10
- 13. Ulupano Seuteni 6/10
- 14. Jack Nowell 6.5/10
- 15. Brice Dulin 6/10
