The Maritimes, lacking confidence, host the Toulouse ogre on Saturday evening, in a still full Marcel-Deflandre.
Sixth in the championship after their defeat in Perpignan (21-13), the Rochelais still cannot manage to string together successes, and are 13 points behind the runner-up Bordeaux-Bègles before hosting the reigning champion Toulouse. For their 100th consecutive sold-out home game, the Maritimes are not only celebrating. For this new “Classic” of French rugby, La Rochelle manager Ronan O’Gara decided to align the Tawera Kerr-Barlow/Ihaia West hinge.
The Irish technician especially had to deal with the absences of his two centers Jonathan Danty, injured in the knee, and Teddy Thomas, suspended. He decided to line up against Toulouse a pair composed of the Samoan UJ Seuteni and the versatile Jules Favre. Returning from a thigh injury, Englishman Jack Nowell will start on one wing, Dillyn Leyds on the other, with Brice Dulin at full-back.
Note that Judicaël Cancoriet will start on the second row. In the third row, Oscar Jégou and Paul Boudehent will be associated with captain and number 8 Grégory Alldritt. The Maritimes are under pressure. “We are a united team, we do the work but we cannot transfer what we do to training,” recognized the pillar Uini Atonio, for whom La Rochelle must “change face”.
Morocco
