Stade Rochelais snatched the defensive bonus against Castres Olympique (28-24) during the 10th day of the Top 14. The Maritimes suffered from a complicated first period, dominated by efficient and realistic Castres. Two tries from Palis and Séguret allowed the locals to widen the gap.
A La Rochelle surge in the second half
With their backs to the wall, Ronan O'Gara's players displayed a completely different attitude upon returning from the locker room. The Rochelais' game became more fluid, and their aggressiveness in attack paid off, with two tries which reignited the suspense.
Despite territorial domination in the last ten minutes, La Rochelle could not find the fault to snatch victory. The Castres defense, well in place, held firm, depriving the Maritimes of an exploit in Tarn lands. And this, while the locals played several minutes numerically inferior.
The Yellow and Black will be keen to make up for it on the next day by hosting RC Vannes. An opportunity to get back on the path to victory before the break. Castres, meanwhile, is preparing for a perilous trip to Clermont, where confidence will be an asset.
Did Jegou escape punishment?
During this meeting, an action by French international Oscar Jegou forced the refereeing body to use video. We were then playing the 65th minute and the Rochelais were already reduced to 14 after the red of Alexsandre Kuntelia.
Carrier of the ball, the 3rd line charged the defense and in particular Palis. Which then remained on the ground. Visibly injured in the face. For some observers, the Rochelais could not escape the yellow or even red card.
But for the official, his action was no more than a simple penalty. The latter having estimated that Jegou's elbow was not horizontal, but “down“and that he simply sought to”exit the player” opposing. It was therefore not a “leading”, i.e. a charge elbow forward in the head/neck area.
An opinion shared by our house referee, Dédé Puildébut:
I agree with the referee, we have to make the difference with the elbow brandished upstream. Here the forearm is used to push back the opponent without danger.
