Despite blatant indiscipline at the start of the match, La Rochelle showed formidable efficiency to punish Toulon at home (29-34) and secure a Top 14 semi-final against Stade Toulousain next Friday.
Stade Toulousain knows its opponent. Already qualified for the Top 14 semi-finals, the reigning French champions will face La Rochelle in Bordeaux next Friday (9:05 p.m.) for a place in the championship final, on June 28. Fifth in the regular season, the Rochelais defeated the RCT at home by scoring four tries and continue to believe in the Brennus shield (29-34).
In the cauldron of Mayol, the Toulonnais have nevertheless put the necessary ingredients to tackle this meeting well. With the ball in hand, the second best attack in the Top 14 during the regular season pushed the best defense into error. The penalties followed one another for Toulon, enough to allow Melvyn Jaminet to gain points (15), despite a first burst of brilliance… from La Rochelle, through Antoine Hastoy.
Jaminet’s boot is not enough
The French international opener, author of all of his team’s points in the first half hour, nevertheless scored the first try of the match, feigning the pass for Leyds to flatten (3-5, 9th). Despite their indiscipline, the Rochelais were effective in their offensive phases, scoring a second try on two occasions thanks to a 50-22 quickly played and concluded by winger Dillyn Leyds (12-17, 30th).
Like a cold-blooded animal, La Rochelle bit again at the end of the first act. After a succession of sequences from five meters away, Jules Favre found the space to plant the third try and allow the Rochelais to take the lead at the break (15-24, 40th).
A beautiful Toulouse-La Rochelle poster in perspective
Ronan O’Gara’s protégés hit the nail on the head as soon as they returned from the locker room by scoring a new try, through Oscar Jegou, more lively than the Toulonnais to recover a penalty from Hastoy on the post and further complicate the situation. addition (15-34, 46th).
In search of qualifying for the semi-finals for the first time since 2017, the Toulonnais revolted in the last half hour to attempt an incredible comeback. But La Rochelle’s defense is not the best in the championship for nothing, especially when play-off mode is engaged. Relaunched by a penalty try following Cancoriet’s yellow card for foul play, the RCT was only able to break through the indestructible lock at the siren despite the numerical superiority (29-34, 80th).
Insatiable, the Maritimes now have a meeting with Toulouse on Friday at Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux for a five-star match between the last two winners of the Champions Cup. The last qualifier for the semi-finals will be known this Sunday, at the end of the play-off between UBB and Racing 92.
Dam:
Sunday June 16 (9:05 p.m.): UBB-Racing 92
Semi-finals:
Friday June 21 (8:15 p.m.): Toulouse – La Rochelle
Saturday June 22 (9:05 p.m.): Stade Français – UBB or Racing 92
Final:
Friday June 28 (9:05 p.m.)
