Stade Rochelais – Stade Français: Jegou shines for his return, the Parisians asleep… The tops and the flops

TOPS

Applauded and positive return for Oscar Jegou

It was one of the attractions of this meeting between Stade Rochelais and Stade Français (35-18). 4 months after the start of the Mendoza affair, Oscar Jegou made his return to the Top 14 pitches with La Rochelle. Applauded by his supporters when the teams were announced, he delivered a good copy. While one might have expected some physical difficulties with truncated predation, he responded from the first to the last minute. In addition to his 100% tackling (12/12), he was decisive on Teddy Thomas' try by slipping the ball to Leyds for the penultimate pass and above all scored the bonus try at the hour of play. All before seeing his name chanted by Marcel-Deflandre.

Skelton can do it all

We already knew him for his power, his disconcerting technique with ball in hand on certain actions or even his ability to annihilate opposing mauls… We discovered a new talent in him this Saturday evening: that of finishing actions like a winger. Served by a pass to the foot of Dulin along the sidelines, the giant Australian second row accelerated before finishing like a bulldozer on two totally helpless Parisian defenders. Despite his little knee scare, he held out until the 73rd minute and also achieved 100% on his tackles (10/10).

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Top 14: La Rochelle recovers in style against Stade français

Carbonel has limited the damage

If Stade Français was in the lead at the break, it was largely thanks to its opener, unfazed by the poles with a 6/6. If he did not shine with his animation with his back lines, Louis Carbonel perfectly applied the game plan desired by his staff with an occupation largely in favor of the Stade Français in the 1st period before the tide completely turned for the French Stadium.

FLOPS

Stade Français was unable to adapt

The game plan was the right one. With the support of the wind, Stade Français dominated the proceedings in the first period with a false rhythm which suited them perfectly until La Rochelle started to play. Confined to trying to play the occupation even against the wind, the Parisians were quickly asphyxiated in their camp under the pressure from La Rochelle. Everything changed at half-time and Sékou Macalou's teammates never managed to reverse the trend, except in the last five minutes, when the score was already made. Too late.

A slow, very slow pace

This is also what follows from the Stade Français game plan; but this Saturday evening, we worried about this meeting for a long time. A first period of extreme poverty where the crossings of the two teams could be counted on the fingers of one hand. Teddy Thomas's try aside, the minutes were long as evidenced by this Marcel Deflandre stadium which was only too little ignited, due to lack of play. If there was better during the second act with some sparks lit by the Rochelais, we still hoped for another show.