Stade Rochelais continues its momentum. This Saturday, June 15, 2024, the Yellow and Black qualified for the semi-final phases of the Top14. After the victory in the play-offs against Toulon, they will face Toulouse at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux on June 21.
The Brennus shield is starting to take shape for Stade Rochelais. The team has indeed just joined the final four of the Top14. The Yellow and Black won against Toulon this Saturday, June 15, 2024. This play-off match ended with a score of 29 to 34, giving Ronan O’Gara’s men their second away victory only. this season in the league.
Ultra-dominant in the duels, the Maritimes, in search of their first Brennus, imposed a high pace from the start, forcing their opponents to make mistakes. Thanks to three tries scored in the first period, Stade Rochelais marked its domination of the match. Stade Toulonnais, which was back in the final stages for the first time since 2018, was unable to overcome the La Rochelle fortress.
The Rochelais, for their part, will offer spectators at the Matmut-Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux a repeat of the 2023 Top14 final. On June 21, the Maritimes will face Toulouse, the reigning European champions, for qualification in the final. from Top14.
In 2023, the Yellow and Black lost with a three-point difference, with a score of 29 to 26. But for Maxime Colin, president of the Bagnards du Stade Rochelais, “We’re not at the same time of the season. This year, the season was difficult in terms of results. I heard that we were at the end of the cycle. We weren’t even seen in the six.”
The season was indeed rather upset, with a World Cup, numerous injuries, and “Several players were missing, both important and experienced.” On June 2, 2024, the last match between La Rochelle and Toulon ended in a tie, 31 to 31.
According to Maxime Colin, “Now, we are in a positive spiral, with four victories in a row. Physically, I find them rather good, because all the attacks are exhausting. I also have the impression that they have not want to go on vacation too early.”
Other qualities could well support the Rochelais in their endeavor to conquer the Brennus shield. “Offensively, they had difficulty finding themselves, but they returned to their standards in the last matches. They also returned to a simple game to find a little foundation and a little motivation”believes Maxime Colin.
Above all, their defense: it is perhaps not insurmountable, but almost.
Maxime ColinPresident of the Stade Rochelais Bagnards
Grégory Alldritt, captain of La Rochelle, described the match as “very good performance (…) but we are still far from the perfect copy. It’s encouraging because it makes you want to get back to work and raise our level of play. We need to rectify certain things for next week even if I think the team played a complete match over time.”
Toulouse is indeed not lacking in assets, as Maxime Colin confirms: “They have enough to field three teams of the same level. If they can do without Dupont and Ntamack, danger can come from anywhere. It will come down to details. Toulouse will have an extra week of rest, but Castres for example has already won the championship, with less rest…”
It will come down to details.
Maxime ColinPresident of the Stade Rochelais Bagnards
The second play-off, which will decide Stade Français’s opponent in the other semi-final, will pit Bordeaux-Bègles against Racing 92.
For Stade Rochelais, the stakes remain high on June 16, 2024. The women’s team will play its qualification in Elite 1F this afternoon. The Access Match will pit the Rochelaises against Bobigny. The match will take place at the Marcel-Deflandre stadium. Perhaps a new success in sight for those who won the title of French Elite 2 champions this season.
