This Sunday, Stade Rochelais fell on its lawn against the Irish Leinster (14-16) at the end of a lively end to the match.
La Rochelle lost by a whisker (16-14) the clash of the third day of the Champions Cup against Leinster on Sunday, after having struggled almost the entire match against the Irish defense.
Antoine Hastoy had the winning penalty with less than a minute to go, just past the halfway line in front of the poles, but found the post. After the melee which followed the action, the opener saw his drop blocked and his partners never managed to crack Leinster, even after two stifling minutes of playing time after the siren.
With this defeat, the Rochelais almost say goodbye to first place in the group, but still remain well placed for qualification thanks to their first two victories and an affordable trip to the Italians of Treviso on the last day. In the European classic of the last four seasons (6th match), the Irish seem to have regained the upper hand and have a third consecutive victory, including two at Marcel-Deflandre.
They won in the group stage last year (16-9) before inflicting a correction in the quarter-finals in Dublin (40-13). In cool conditions but under a beautiful blue sky, the Rochelais, with a worrying face during the last three Top 14 matches, showed a lot of aggression, like the first devastating breakthroughs of third row Paul Boudehent.
Atonio and Wardi injured
They could afford it with seven forwards on the bench, for just one back. Irish coach Ronan O’Gara was able to inject new blood regularly, but also in a forced manner with the injury exits of pillars Uini Atonio and Reda Wardi, bad news three weeks before the start of the Six Nations Tournament. The Rochelais first laid siege to the Irish camp (80% territorial occupation in the first 20 minutes) even spending seven minutes in the last 15 meters.
In vain, and the lead of the 2022 and 2023 European champions (victories in the final against Leinster) was only three points (6-3) after this intense pressure phase. Conversely, on a combination between Osborne and McCarthy, it was they who were pierced after half an hour of play. Late at the break (10-6), the Rochelais foiled a little after returning from the locker room , suffering two penalties (16-6, 55th).
But the second wind came on the hour mark, with a penalty then a try from Leyds bringing the Rochelais within one breath fifteen minutes from the end. Both teams then had the opportunity to score with their feet, but without success. And after a final pass of arms, the Irish raised their arms.
