Champions Cup: after two days, only La Rochelle and Toulouse hold their rank among the French teams
La Rochelle and Stade Toulousain are the only two French clubs to have scored two victories in as many games. Conversely, Racing 92, Castres, Bordeaux-Bègles and Lyon have not yet won.
La Rochelle in uneven mood
Reigning European champions Stade Rochelais demonstrated at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin – and not in Ulster where the ground was frozen – that they could sometimes be in a whimsical mood, during their victory over the Irish province (36-29). The Maritimes had a second period much less successful than the first and during which the Ulstermen scored no less than four tries, to get the offensive and defensive bonuses.
The Caravelle club can justify Antoine Hastoy, author of 26 points on his own and whose talent allowed his team to reach the break with a very comfortable lead (29-0).
The LOU already under pressure
Lyon chained a second defeat in a row, at Gerland against Saracens (20-28), after failing in South Africa on the first day against the Bulls. Thanks to its two bonus points, offensive and defensive, acquired in South Africa, the LOU provisionally points to 9th place, which however seems quite fair to hope to qualify for the future.
Clermont has nothing to be ashamed of
A victory against the Michelin Stormers last weekend, a defeat against Leicester on Saturday at Welford Road (16-23): Clermont has nothing to be ashamed of for the moment with its Champions Cup run, especially since its The end of the game against the reigning English champions is promising for the revenge of this match. Even if we will have to be wary of the club coached by Steve Borthwick, perhaps for a very long time if the former second line decides to say “yes” to the XV of the Rose after the ousting of Eddie Jones, who showed good offensive qualities.
Montpellier, the bad surprise
Montpellier, after winning with the bonus at the London Irish (32-27), was surprised (10-21) at the GGL Stadium by a more affordable opponent, the Ospreys. The reigning French champion, undisciplined, failed to impose his game against the Welsh, who signed three tries: he will have to recover in Wales on the next day if he wants to keep a chance of qualifier.
Racing sees red
Racing 92, already heavily beaten by Leinster when they entered the competition, conceded on the ground of Harlequins, a new defeat (10-14) after playing half an hour in numerical inferiority. Guilty of a dangerous tackle, the faithful third line Kitione Kamikamica left the Hauts-de-Seine club at fourteen in the 50th minute.