La Rochelle, worrying recently away from home, recovered well at home by easily dominating Stade français (35-18), offensive bonus as a bonus, including a try from the returning Oscar Jegou on Saturday evening on behalf of the 9th day of Top 14.
Jegou author of an essay
Still being prosecuted for aggravated rape in Argentina in the company of Palois Hugo Auradou and almost four months after his last match with the French team during the summer tour, the young La Rochelle third row scored a try for his return.
After having flattened with force in the 61st minute, Jegou saw his name chanted by the public at the Marcel-Deflandre stadium, whom he thanked wholeheartedly with his hands, visibly moved.
Thanks to this success, Ronan O'Gara's men escape from a pack of contenders for qualification to come back two lengths behind the leaders Bordeaux-Bègles and Toulouse, who will play Sunday in Bayonne.
The Pink Soldiers, poor in the game but ultra-realistic thanks to the boot of Louis Carbonel to punish La Rochelle's initial indiscipline (6 penalties) remain stuck in the place of play-off with still three points ahead of the promoted Breton Vannes, good last.
There were two matches in this clash of semi-finalists from the last year: the first sluggish and boring between Rochelais remaining on two big setbacks far from Deflandre questioning their potential, and very fragile Parisians far from their base from Jean-Bouin (0 points in 4 trips) who, with the wind at their backs, took the lead at the break (11-15).
Carbonel impeccable au pied
Then a second, entirely maritime, helped by the dynamism brought by the incoming Jonathan Danty – not recalled to Marcoussis to prepare France-Japan in a week – and with three tries scored which made the difference to the score.
The intentions were there but so was the doubt, among everyone. Forward into contact, bad choice, the main players of the first half hour were Carbonel, precise against the poles, and the Argentine referee Damián Schneider who will lead the Blues against Japan.
Then in the wake of Brice Dulin attempting shots, Teddy Thomas concluded a first beautiful sequence in the corridor on a step between three players (32nd) which set the tone for what was to follow.
More ambitious on the return, the caravel players leaned on their strong point, power, to first send Tolu Latu behind the line (44th), then Oscar Jegou (61st).
Laurent Labit's men still not responding, La Rochelle definitely took cover thanks to Will Skelton, served on the wing by a clever right kick from Dulin (71st).
France
