The dynamics: two teams launched towards the end of the season
With perhaps Toulon, La Rochelle and Racing 92 are probably the two most fit teams in the championship. Authors of four victories in the last five games, the Rochelais are living hell in their opponents weekend after weekend and were only defeated in 2020 by a small point by the Stade Français (21-20) to Jean Bouin . Not bad, but still worse than a Racing 92 launched wonderfully for several weeks in the wake of a qualification for the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup. Teddy Iribaren's teammates leave nothing to others, whether at home or away, and had even won their last five games before the defeat last weekend in Lyon (29-20).
The game: everything for the attack
In La Rochelle as in Racing, it seems decided that the conquest of a title will go through an offensive and offensive game. Far from having the best defenses in the championship, the two teams camouflage this relative weakness by scoring, and scoring again. With 44 tries since the start of the year, Racing is way ahead of La Rochelle ("only" 38), but the Charentais can count in their ranks the best test marker in the Top 14 in the person of winger Arthur Retière (8 achievements). A luxury they will have to take advantage of on Saturday to counter the offensives of Ile-de-France. Since October 19, and a 12 to 6 defeat, Racing 92 has always scored at least 20 points during each meeting. Their opponent at the time? The Stade Rochelais.
The coaches: Travers' experience faced with the “inexperienced” O'Gara
Laurent Travers has almost no equivalent in France today. Between Castres and Racing 92, the coach collected two shields from Brennus and played two European Cup finals. He was even the French ProD2 champion in 2005 when he was in charge of the forwards on the Montauban side. An invaluable experience in a group, and which will undoubtedly serve in the weeks to come when the classification will finish delivering its verdict and the knockout matches will arrive. Opposite, La Rochelle bet on Ronan O'Gara at the start of the season, and the third place of the Rochelais validates this choice for the moment. Head coach for the first time, O'Gara had previously trained for four years as a defense coach ... in Racing. He then decided to go hard for a year with the Crusaders before making his return to France. He certainly discovers a new role this year, but accustomed to leading his team when he was playing in Munster and in the shirt of XV of clubs, he should not have to worry about taking the measure.
The leaders: Russell the banished and Plisson the risen
This confrontation had to be guessed at the start of the season. Whether it was Finn Russell at Racing 92 or Jules Plisson at La Rochelle, neither of the two openers should have been present on the match sheets for this meeting. Supposed to be busy with his selection, Russell disagrees with his coach Gregor Townsend and has been shunned by the national team since. A player at the Stade Français at the start of the season, Plisson decided to change his tune in November to join La Rochelle. Arriving far from his best level, he has since regained all his rugby and hovers over the game of the Maritimes of which he is the spearhead. His duel with the Scotsman promises in any case to make sparks on the synthetic lawn of Paris La Défense Arana.
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