Under the eyes of its excited public, La Rochelle has once again seduced.
By their strength, their confidence and the impression of solidity they give off, Ronan O'Gara's men have proven once again that they deserve the title of European champion won last season.
The Toulonnais of Pierre Mignoni and Franck Azéma struggled a lot this Sunday evening before weakening and fading (32-5).
"We owed that to our supporters after our defeat in Bayonne last week
(Editor's note: 29-13)
", underlines the third center line from La Rochelle Grégory Alldritt.
Whether you come from the shores of the Atlantic or the shores of the Mediterranean, we know the warnings of heavy weather.
The night remained mild above the Marcel-Deflandre stadium, but the clash between maritimes made waves.
Not enough to sail offshore but rather bow to bow, head first.
In this frontal game, La Rochelle and Toulon are the best at the moment in France.
Their power and their dynamism make these big arms candidates for the title.
Bastareaud responds to Seuteni
First, there was the physical test.
A kind of boxing fight where everyone knew how to take the blows and return them.
A bit more piercing and effective in their sequences, the Rochelais took the lead.
The opener Seuteni, author of a small kick for himself above the Toulon three-quarter line, was the first to cross the line (35th).
In the aftermath, it is Bastareaud, the Var third line, who plunges into the in-goal after escaping from a regrouping five meters from the La Rochelle line (38th, 11-5).
And the bonus test after the mermaid!
🚨
Big show of force from the Rochelais who finally won 32 to 5 against the Toulonnais who only lasted half time 👏 #SRRCT pic.twitter.com/xzDQm7Ai8x
- CANAL + Rugby (@CanalplusRugby) October 16, 2022
The duel is balanced in the first period.
A duel full of Blues who are impatiently awaiting the list of forty-two players selected by Fabien Galthié, the coach of the XV of France, for the autumn tour against Australia (November 5), South Africa (November 12) and Japan (November 20), and unveiled this Monday evening, in principle.
On one side, Alldritt, Atonio, Bourgarit, Dulin, Danty, Thomas, or even Tanga, on the other Ollivon, even Serin.
The imbalance between the number of internationals in the two camps is reflected on the pitch in the second half by a clear superiority for La Rochelle.
Hooker Pierre Bourgarit victoriously drove a maul (48th) before former Racing winger Teddy Thomas raced past a regrouping for a twenty-five-meter sprint concluded under the posts (53rd, 25-5) then the young Quentin Lespiaucq does not offer the offensive bonus (80th).
La Rochelle is in second place in the standings behind Stade Toulousain, which it will challenge next Sunday in a clash at the top.
Toulon ranks fifth, in the order of things.
Only minimal fear, Charles Ollivon, fell on his back after an extension in touch, left the field preventively.
Nothing serious a priori for the former tricolor captain who does not know if he will recover the armband left the time of his injury last season to Antoine Dupont and now well hung around the arm of the Toulouse scrum-half.
Dots
Le Rochelle:
4 attempts by Seuteni (35th), Bourgarit (48th), Thomas (53rd), Lespiaucq (80th);
3 conversions from Favre (48th, 53rd) and Le Bail (80th), 2 penalties from Favre (14th, 29th).
Toulon:
1 try from Bastareaud (38th).
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