Tops
A historic first for Stade Rochelais
By achieving undoubtedly the best match in its young European history, of which it was only the 17th meeting, La Rochelle offered a brilliant qualification in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup, after having humiliated the English de Sale (45- 21), in his den of Marcel-Deflandre.
Turning in the lead after a balanced first period (18-16), Romain Sazy's teammates did not go half way back from the locker room by inflicting a scathing 27-0 to the Sharks, with four additional tests and a rugby recited to perfection, despite the test conceded at the very end of the match through winger Byron McGuigan (76th).
In the last square, the Rochelais will find two other French clubs since Union Bordeaux-Bègles and ASM Clermont respectively host Racing 92 and Stade Toulousain, this Sunday.
Grégory Aldritt, symbol of a dominant La Rochelle pack
Author of the first test of the Maritimes just before half an hour of play (29th), the third international line was the spearhead of the eight in front of La Rochelle, which outrageously dominated the debates in melee as in conquest.
Constantly solicited by his partners (13 hand-played balls) and generous in defense (11 tackles, including one offensive), Grégory Aldritt delivered a performance in line with his successful Six Nations Tournament with the XV of France.
Ihaia West puts on her
Favorite
gala costume
to Jules Plisson, finally forfeited on the substitutes' bench just before kick-off, the New Zealand opening half had a full match being directly involved in half of the trials of the Yellow and Black.
Author of two surgical foot passes on the long movement which led to the test of Grégory Aldritt (29th), Ihaia West then made speak his science of the pass by serving in the right tempo Raymond Rhule (42nd) then Geoffrey Doumayrou ( 69th) who took back the English defense.
We could almost forget his low success rate in his role as a scorer (60%, 6/10).
The maritime wingers had ants in their legs
Author of three tests between them, Dillyn Leyds and Raymond Rhule made the English defense a nightmare.
After having countered a pass from Faf de Klerk and controlled the ball in two stages, the first offered himself a counter of more than fifty meters by making his speed speak before the second, elected man of the match, offered himself a doubled in the second half (42nd, 51st).
With 73 and 67 meters covered with the ball in hand, Dillyn Leyds and Raymond Rhule were the three-quarters of La Rochelle most prominent even if the center Geoffrey Doumayrou also scored two tries (61st, 69th).
Flops
De Klerk-Mac Guinty, a hinge in
Brilliant
agony
during Llanelli's Scarlets success in the round of 16 last weekend (14-57), scrum-half Faf de Klerk and opener AJ MacGinty have crossed the match like a shadow, unable to change the pace of the match to break the dynamics of La Rochelle.
The South African world champion was sanctioned by Paul Deacon and his staff by leaving early in the game (57th) to the detriment of Raphael Quirke, who will not be able to reverse the trend.
Author of 32 points against the Scarlets, AJ MacGinty was also unrecognizable on the lawn of Deflandre, notably missing penalties within his reach and poorly adjusting his games to the foot of occupation, which Brice Dulin feasted on the relaunch .
The Sharks' blatant indiscipline
Sale club gave Irish referee Andrew Brace a hard time, who penalized them 14 times.
A figure much too high to hope to obtain a qualifying ticket.
Dominated in melee with only half of their introductions won (2/4), the English were also too undisciplined in the ruck zones, with late supports or tackles who could not extract themselves.
The Sharks, who could also hope to discover the last four of the Champions Cup, are therefore leaving the competition by the back door.
Read also
Champions Cup schedule and results