The Rochelais are struggling to regain the dynamic that took them to the top of European rugby. Between an aging squad, offensive shortcomings and a wavering mentality, Jean-Pierre Elissalde and Dillyn Leyds share lucid analyzes on the difficulties of Stade Rochelais this season. While the second part of the championship promises to be solid, time is running out to correct the situation. This Sunday, the Maritimes will pass a very big test against Leinster in the Champions Cup.
An aging workforce and seized workings
Jean-Pierre Elissalde, former emblematic player and coach of La Rochelle, did not mince his words via France Bleu regarding the current situation of the club. “There is no oil in the wheels, the workforce is aging“, he analyzes frankly. For him, the Maritimes lack freshness and efficiency, which directly impacts their game. “Internet users are wondering why the balloons don’t come out faster? But we don’t want it to come out quickly because we can’t set the pace“, he laments.
Today, talking about a double for Stade Rochelais would be incongruous, not to say out of place.
The two recruits announced for next season, Le Garrec and Niniashvili, should bring dynamism, but in the meantime, Stade Rochelais is struggling to compete with the big names in the championship. Elissalde also points to management that is often questionedbut defends Ronan O’Gara: “When things don’t go well, we always find difficulties in management. I try to have a broader vision.“For him, the problems at Stade Rochelais do not come down to management, but to collective and structural limits.
We have an exceptional player: it’s Skelton. And when he’s not there, we take balls carried against young ‘virgins’ almost, we have difficulty advancing on our own ball ranges, the scrum becomes neutral… because we carry no one away.
A wavering mentality on the away pitches
For his part, South African winger Dillyn Leyds focuses on another aspect: the mentality of the group, especially during away matches. “During big matches, the connection is there all the time. But in a match that is not as ‘big’, where we have to win, we are not there“, he regrets via Sud Ouest. The disappointing performances against less upscale teams reflect a lack of concentration and consistency. “We’re frozen…and when we decide we have to play, it’s too late“, he admits.
These mental difficulties are also reflected in post-match meetings : “They say we did good things, but we didn’t finish the job. We can’t wait until the home game to win.“An honest self-criticism which highlights the urgency of transforming these words into actions to avoid experiencing a season of ups and downs.
Reasons for hope?
Despite the criticisms and frustrations, all is not dark for the Rochelais. “We really believe that we are a good team, that we have a special group“, assures Dillyn Leyds. The Maritimes have proven their ability to shine in major events, notably in the Champions Cup, where the team seems galvanized. But this state of mind must be maintained in the championship to avoid compromising their objectives .
Jean-Pierre Elissalde also remains measured: “Now it’s too late to change horses, jockeys, trainers, so we continue.“With a competition format that allows for turnarounds, the Rochelais have every chance, provided they regain their cohesion and efficiency.
What next for Stade Rochelais?
The challenge is immense for Ronan O’Gara and his men. In the short term, it will be about finding consistency in the championship to stay in the race for the final stages. In the longer term, targeted recruitments for next season could be a solution to fill the gaps identified by Elissalde. But the results will have to come quickly, because La Rochelle supporters, accustomed to excellence, expect more than a simple burst of pride.
We need to be complete, we need to be fresh, we need to be successful and above all we need an opponent who doesn’t set the pace. This is not necessarily what awaits us next Saturday.
The next few weeks will be decisive in knowing whether the Maritimes can hope for a new coronation or whether, as Elissalde points out, talk of a double will remain.incongruous“. One certainty: all eyes will be on the Yellow and Black, who must now prove their worth on the pitch. First meeting this Sunday against Leinster.
