TOPS
The solid performance of the Maritimes
A job well done. Stade Rochelais, finalist of the last Champions Cup, took a big step this Saturday towards the round of 16 of the continental event, dominating Bath. The fourth time will have been the good one: last year, the two Franco-English confrontations were canceled due to the Covid and, this year, it was the first leg across the Channel which could not take place. After their victory over Glasgow in the opening and their draw on the green carpet against Bath, the caravel club opens wide the doors of the continental top 14 thanks to this success. Powerful, solid and applied, the teammates of Grégory Alldritt did not tremble, winning the offensive bonus (4 tries) from the 50th minute of play. Clean even if there was a culpable release at thehour of play with three English tries conceded.
Popelin, first successful European tenure
In the absence of Ihaia West, Ronan O'Gara, the manager of La Rochelle, had chosen to entrust the keys to the truck to Pierre Popelin, Jules Plisson starting on the bench. A wise choice since the opening half of Stade Rochelais (26 years old) played just against the quickly overwhelmed English. Injured in October against Brive after having chained four tenures at the start of the exercise, Popelin, former opener for Vannes, honored his first tenure in the European Cup (he had played 5 minutes against Glasgow in December) and he did not tremble . Even finishing the match at the back. Above all, he was impeccable in his role as scorer (2 penalties, 4 transformations), when his competitors regularly show feverishness in this sector.From there to shake up the hierarchy this season for the position of number 10? To confirm. Next year, West (Toulon) and Plisson (Clermont) will be gone, this time it will be necessary to deal with competition from Hastoy, who will arrive from Pau.
Picquette sees double
In the absence of bulldozer Will Skelton, Rémi Picquette took on the role of mover.
The second line from La Rochelle has indeed made its power speak against the players of Bath.
Twice, the solid guy (2 m, 112 kg), trained at Stade Rochelais before spending four seasons at Vannes, scored two tries, in force, allowing his team to make the difference.
Precious within a dominating La Rochelle pack.
FLOPS
Long amorphous bath
Bath is a historic club in the English league. A bastion which is completely adrift this season, the red lantern of the English championship. Last week, Bath ended a black streak of 13 consecutive defeats by winning against Worcester in the English Premiership. This Saturday, the English – certainly deprived of many executives – relapsed at Marcel-Deflandre. Heavily. And they showed a most worrying face: hand faults, lack of movement, difficulties in front... Nothing was going well. Jonathan Joseph's teammates did not exist against La Rochelle, even if they woke up a little late. With two points in three matches, the Champions Cup is almost already over for the English. We will now have to focus on the maintenance operation in the championship. There's work...
Fatal hour of play
The case seemed folded for a long time.
In the 57th minute of play, Stade Rochelais led 39-0 and seemed to be heading towards a quiet end to the game.
Before a guilty release during which Bat players scored three tries in 6 minutes, between the 57th and 63rd minute.
Ronan O'Gara's players, who had a comfortable lead, had some scares.
We then imagined the worst: a return of the English.
The Maritimes then caught their breath and put things in order.
Ending the match with a very wide score...
Atonio targeted in melee
The solid right pillar of La Rochelle had a complicated start to the match in scrum.
Uini Atonio was penalized several times (3 times in the first period) in this sector by the Welsh referee Craig Evans, who criticized him for his scrum holding.
Issues resolved after returning from the locker room.