Traveling to Treviso, La Rochelle fell against Benetton (32-25). Thanks to this defensive bonus, the Maritimes still finished in 2nd place in group 2 and qualified for the round of 16. But if they are guaranteed to receive in the next round, they will probably have to move during the quarters. Benetton (3rd) also passes, as does Clermont (4th).
Former king of the Champions Cup, La Rochelle, beaten last week by Leinster at Marcel-Deflandre (14-16), went to Treviso in a shock for its survival in the queen of club competitions. With ten points, the O'Gara gang (2e) was under pressure from Benetton therefore, but also from Bath, traveling to Leinster.
For once, the calculation was quite simple: a point guaranteed a ticket for the next round, but a victory gave hope of a leadership position in the event of a misstep by Cullen's protégés. In this mano a mano from a distance, La Rochelle did not do its share of the work (32-25). For its part, Leinster ensured by offering Bath with the offensive bonus and therefore finished in first place in group 2. La Rochelle (11 points), the same number as Benetton (11 points), finished ahead of the Italians on points difference. Clermont brings up the rear (10 points).
A balanced first period
Quickly reduced to a numerical inferiority following the card received by Kerr-Barlow, for a head-to-head clash with Menoncello (3e), La Rochelle managed the start of the game well, notably thanks to the boot of Hastoy (0-6, 8e12e). Installed, the Maritimes were sanctioned after a bad outing from camp. When going to the ground, Kaddouri fumbled possession. Smith took the outsides. During the reversal, well served, Niccolo Cannone clearly played a surplus (7-6, 15e). Benetton, like its evening opponent, did not hesitate to try for points. A profitable strategy with Albornoz (10-6, 23e).
Led, Atonio's partners began to react thanks in particular to a rather inspired Kerr-Barlow and Hastoy hinge. The forwards were in tune. Shifted to the wing, Nowell escaped Smith's vigilance, then slipped into a corner (10-11, 27e). The last word still went to the locals. At long distance, on the left, Smith improved the work of his scrum, rather dominant in the first act (13-11, 40e + 1).
-La Rochelle was scuttled with too much indiscipline
Returning from the locker room, the teams continued to fight blow for blow. Albornoz added three points (16-11, 42e), Tawera Kerr-Barlow provided another answer. Behind the forwards who had moved forward, the scrum half, like a trickster, put the point of the ball on the line (16-18, 46e).
After a new penalty from Smith at long distance (19-18, 51e), the Maritimes decided to put an end, for a time, to the crossover. On a first-hand throw to the median, Nowell hit a follow-up kick into a bare area. Gallagher, under pressure, kept the ball on the ground. He was sanctioned. Clever, Kerr-Barlow quickly played the penalty to score a double (19-25, 55e).
With the match in hand, La Rochelle fell back into its ways. Benetton did not panic by taking points twice (25-25, 60e et 63e), despite the yellow card collected by Zilocchi for a rocking tackle on Nowell (62e). With one less, the Lions even managed to drive the point home. At the end of an endless sequence of kicks, Leyds unscrewed. Cannone captured the offering within 22 meters. By advancing in the axis, Bernasconi, with a dynamic charge, concluded the blow (32-25, 67e). Dulin's partners, overall too undisciplined (13 penalties), were never able to get up, even though they had several opportunities to score a draw at the end of the game. In this context, this defeat, the third in the last four matches, will not dispel the doubts surrounding the Yellow and Black.
