Almost halfway through the season, the shifting and unstable hierarchy at the key position of fly-half gives La Rochelle an atypical dimension among clubs – French and European – armed to compete for the title(s). Ronan O’Gara expects much more from the tempting Hastoy – Reus – West trio. Only the last city is doing well so far but not yet to establish itself as boss of the position this season.
The question was asked in such a way as to remove any possible ambiguity, if there was any. Does the absence of Antoine Hastoy for three matches indeed respond to a purely sporting criterion or is the former Palois, number one custodian of the La Rochelle game since the summer of 2022, currently reduced by an injury? Frank and confident response from Romain Carmignani last Saturday evening, following the improved success of the Rochelais against Bristol (35-7): “It’s a real choice on the part of the staff and the manager. If we expect more from him? Exactly. And he knows it, there’s no problem with that.”
Responsible for training the forwards, Ronan O’Gara’s assistant has only confirmed the words of the “boss”, incisive here and there in recent weeks when it comes to inviting Hastoy to “take control of the team”. Or rather Hastoy and others. Because the Irishman, if he has made the Blue (7 selections) his main opener these last two seasons, never forgets Hugo Reus and Ihaia West: his protégé and his first reliable guy with La Rochelle, where everyone is struggling today. today to assert himself more than anyone else. Over time, at least. An anomaly for a club of this stature. When, among its main competitors for the Brennus and the Champions Cup, the boss of the truck is clearly identified.
Shake statuses
It is time for that to change in Charente-Maritime. And quickly. Hence this call signed “ROG”, just before the first European fortnight, after an alarming defeat at Deflandre against Vannes: “Number 10 is available for someone who wants to show their class and responsibility for the team.” Then this rehash, last Saturday, before the start of the 2nd day of the group stage, on the microphone of the broadcaster beIn Sport: “I insist that my 10 be brave […] It’s not talent that we lack, we often lack appetite in hard times. The most important thing for a big 10 is the mind.”
Also, the Irish technician sent a strong signal through his team composition. Never since Hastoy’s enlistment has the former fly-half entrusted the keys to another player on the continental scene (14 matches, 77 minutes of play on average!). But the situation has changed since they returned to face the Premiership co-leaders (Bath, Bristol) at Ihaia West, whose last start in the Champions Cup dates back to the 2022 final, won in Marseille against Leinster.
West takes an option
A very successful choice. Impeccable at the Recreation Ground, the underrated Maori, defended Grégory Alldritt, did “the right choices” in Deflandre, despite some obvious sins of gluttony. “I love this player! Technically, he’s one of the bestpraises one of his hinge friends Thomas Berjon. We never had any doubts about Ihaia, we knew he was going to do the job and he did it over the last two weeks. I’m very happy for him. I find it very strong.”
Should we therefore see in West the providential man? If his success against the poles (20/23 or 87% when Hastoy and Reus respectively turn at 73 and 36% this season), an exercise which has often failed him in the past, is a good indicator of his state of form, and if his playing time speaks for him, he still seems very uncertain to decide. Certainly, Hugo Reus, used only 25 minutes as a professional since the beginning of October, beaten last Sunday with the hopefuls, has a long way to go. But Antoine Hastoy, piqued in his pride, will quickly have opportunities to (re)take the torch. “He had a great tour in Argentina (with the XV of France, Editor’s note). It was better to leave him alone at the start of the season with the ability to have 20-25 high quality games to play“, O’Gara said recently.
The common desire “to be number 1”
However, since the last appearance of the international opener, at the end of November in Castres, the ten seat is no longer as difficult. “Since the start of the season, when the hinge was criticized, it was mainly that we, up front, were not doing the job. Now, we have been doing it recently so that puts them in better positions to take the best possible choices and be efficient”observes Captain Alldritt.
And West, well placed to know: “We have three good 10s who can play any match. It’s up to the staff to choose but, the three of us, we all want to be number 1. At the same time, we work well together, we have meetings with the staff to talk about our attack, we share ideas so that the guy who is going to play has a good chance of performing well.” Otherwise, Ronan O’Gara will undoubtedly not hesitate to launch the very promising Diego Jurd, 18 years old, who had his world glued to the off-season preparation.
