European Rugby Cup: La Rochelle in tough, Toulouse avoid the worst
The spectacle was put on in the Champions Cup, the European Rugby Cup. For these knockout rounds in an unprecedented return trip, La Rochelle took an option on qualification by winning well against Bordeaux (13-31). For his part, the defending champion from Toulouse, outnumbered for a good part of the meeting, lost to Ulster (20-26). While waiting for the Stade Français – Racing derby and the Clermont or Montpellier matches on Sunday, here is what to remember from these first posters.
The La Rochelle festival against the UBB
Unlucky finalists of the last Champions Cup, the Maritimes sent a message to Europe this afternoon. Solid defensively and sharp offensively, they largely beat Bordeaux-Bègles (13-31) and have already taken a good option on qualifying for the quarter-finals. La Rochelle took advantage of the indiscipline of the UBB and the game at the foot of its opener Ihaia West (14 points) to win.
Ronan O’Gara’s men scored the first try of the game thanks to a great breakthrough from Raymond Rhule in the Bordeaux defense (22nd, 3-8). Jonathan Danty then worsened the score by finishing in the UBB in-goal (54th, 8-21). Despite the two achievements of Cameron Woki (51st) and Federico Mori (68th), the Girondins sabotaged their chance of victory by conceding a try from broke with the yellow card of Clément Maynadier, guilty of an anti-game foul (64th , 8-28). The return match will take place next Saturday at Marcel-Deflandre (4 p.m.).
Although the final gap of 18 points is not final, Alldritt’s teammates have a few crampons in the next round… “It’s a successful match. Since the start of the season, we have tended to alternate the good and the less good, summarizes the 3rd center line. The character of a team is seen in defense. The team realized that this is the last final sprint. The epic of the last season (Editor’s note: final lost against Toulouse) brought a breath of fresh air, we learned to love this competition. The whole group has only one desire, and that is to take the next step. »
Toulouse sees life in red
It only took seven short minutes of play at the Stadium to conclude in the Ulster in-goal. And yet, after the test of Meafou and the transformation of Thomas Ramos (7-0), the defending champion has complicated the task. Guilty of a nasty gesture in the air on his opponent Ben Moxham, the Argentinian winger Juan Cruz Mallia took a red card four minutes later.
And even having conceded two tries from Robert Baloucoune (13th, 46th), Stade Toulousain was able to count on its defensive solidity and on the game at the foot of Thomas Ramos for a good part of the meeting, before collapsing completely. Twenty minutes from the end of the match, Warwick concluded in power in the Toulouse defense (59th) and allowed Ulster to pass in front of the scoreboard for the first time in the match. The Baloucoune man of the match then scored a triple, allowing his club to increase their lead (13-26).
At the end of the match (80th), Romain Ntamack scored a try, which allows the Stadistes to still believe in qualification (20-26). With this setback, Toulouse continues its second consecutive defeat in all competitions.
Man of the day: Ihaia West
Four penalties, one transformation (out of three tries)… The boot of New Zealand opener Ihaia West allowed the finalist of the 2021 edition to keep Bordeaux-Bègles at a distance. The future Toulon player (whom he will join at the end of the season until 2025 after four years in La Rochelle) definitely appreciates the Gironde air.
After a difficult period (where he found himself several times facing the posts at the end of the match, depriving his people of almost acquired victories), the Maori regained the “mojo” last week by passing Bordeaux a fault at the siren to allow the Rochelais to beat the UBB on the wire (16-15).
Last year, West was the unfortunate architect of the two defeats of La Rochelle against Toulouse in the final of the Top 14 and the European Cup, with a meager 50% on the foot (5/10, 3 missed kicks in the European final and 2 for the Brennus).
The number: 4
In the four round of 16 matches scheduled for Friday evening and then Saturday afternoon, four teams won… away! In addition to La Rochelle and Ulster, Leinster won in Connacht (26-21) and Bristol went to beat Sale (10-9) in a very closed match.
The results of the round of 16 first leg
Friday night :
Connacht (Ireland) – Leinster (Ireland) 21-26.
Saturday :
Sale (Eng) – Bristol (Eng) 9-10
Bordeaux-La Rochelle 13-31
Toulouse-Ulster 20-26