Eight days before a Champions Cup semi-final against the English of Exeter, Stade Rochelais is full of confidence.
This Saturday afternoon at the opening of the 23rd day of Top 14, the Maritimes beat Clermont (26-13).
To discover
Schedule and Top 14 results
Ranking Top 14
Second in the standings, Ronan O'Gara's men are taking a step closer to the direct semi-finals while Christophe Urios' ASM can already say goodbye to the finals.
Rock realism
The first 15 minutes of the game were to the advantage of Clermontois.
The latter, sharper and more aggressive, put pressure on the maritime defence.
But Belleau twice against poles at 40 meters and 22 meters on the left, missed two penalties.
And on their first attack, the Rochelais will punish ASM for its lack of efficiency.
After a quickly played penalty in front of the in-goal, Sclavi scored the first try of the game and his 5th personal try (17th).
A quarter of an hour later, the flanker Paul Boudehent, excellent this Saturday, made a festival by feigning the pass to afford a solo test.
And just before the break, Ronan O'Gara's men will drive the point home through Teddy Thomas, running after a game at the foot of Dulin (40th, 19-0).
Clermont effective in the second half
And in the second half, the Jaunards continued to put pressure on a somewhat sleepy La Rochelle side.
Jauneau, on a pass after contact from Belleau, crossed, rebuffed Teddy Thomas, hooked Dulin and scored the revolt test (49th).
Following, the Clermont opener adjusted a new penalty and ASM was again highlighted thanks to Jauneau.
The young scrum half illuminated the meeting with a new breakthrough (60th), materialized by a penalty from Plisson.
At the end of the match, even if clumsiness annihilated certain actions, Leyds, on the counter, planted the last banderilla synonymous with an offensive bonus.
For the Maritimes, now heading to the semi-final of the Champions Cup.