Stade Toulousain and La Rochelle meet on Saturday evening at Ernest-Wallon as part of the play-off. This week, La Dépêche du Midi looks back on the last six official confrontations between the two clubs, which saw six Toulouse victories. Episode three, the fight for Europe.
After a defeat in the European Challenge final in 2019 and two Top 14 semi-finals in 2017 and 2019, La Rochelle continues its good progress in the rugby landscape by qualifying for the European Cup final but also for the Top 14 final in 2021. Against Rochelais, Stade Toulousain, for a double final, although the two clubs do not know it yet. Woe to the vanquished, the first leg will be played to climb to the roof of Europe.
The context
French rugby is back on the European stage with this Franco-French final. Stade Toulousain, who have already won the European Cup four times, come up against the rookies from La Rochelle. The experience of the old Toulouse team against the young and beautiful team of La Rochelle which continues to progress. La Rochelle, runner-up to the Stade in the league, for only two points, comes with the firm intention of equaling Toulouse. In a month, the loser will have the opportunity to take revenge, the winner the opportunity to disgust his adversary.
A final is not played…
At Twickenham, the temple of rugby, the two teams appear on the lawn in the London rain. The two formations, usually players, seem overwhelmed by the event and the stakes and this first half is very poor at rugby level. We have to rely on the scorers, West on the La Rochelle side and Ntamack on the Toulouse side. If the sun points the tip of its nose at the half-hour mark, the game does not light up. At the end of this first act, it was the Maritimes who took the lead, 12-9, but beware, La Rochelle is now at 14.
Botia’s red card
28th minute of play, the ball is in the arms of Toulouse. The Fijian center from La Rochelle, Levani Botia, then made a serious mistake, he tackled Maxime Médard very high. The Fijian’s shoulder hits the head of the player trained at Stade Toulousain. Maxime Médard leaves his place to Thomas Ramos for the concussion protocol, Levani Botia, he sees red and greatly penalizes his team for the rest of the meeting. On the Toulouse side, Elstadt receives a yellow card two minutes later, the two teams end the first half at 14.
Recovery in money time
The match resumed and despite the superiority, the Toulouse failed to take the lead, not helped by the many whistles from Mr. Pearce. The light comes through Romain Ntamack. On the hour mark, after a long possession, the Toulouse opener made a superb jump pass to the outside. Thanks to the Argentinian Mallia, the men of Ugo Mola take the advantage. The end of the match is approaching, it is the moment chosen by La Rochelle to revive the suspense. Outnumbered, the Rochelais did not give up and, through Kerr-Barlow, scored their first try in the 74th minute. The game is restarted. The Stadium, with its experience of major events, does not break in the face of pressure from La Rochelle, the “Rouge et Noir” finally win 22-17 and win the club’s fifth European Cup.
Team compositions:
Toulouse Stadium: Medard – Kolbe, Mallia, Ahki, Lebel – (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont (cap.) – Cros, Kaino, Elstadt – Ri. Arnold, Ro. Arnold – Famuina, Mauvaka, Baille
Remplaçants : G. Marchand, Castets, Ainu’u, Tekori, Flament, Tolofua, Germain, Ramos.
La Rochelle: Dulin – Leyds, Doumayrou, Botia, Rhule – (o) West, (m) Kerr-Barlow – Gourdon, Vito, Alldritt – Skelton, Sazy (cap.) – Atonio, Bourgarit, Prison
Replacements: Bosch, Wardi, A. Joly, T. Lavault, Liebenberg, P. Boudehent, Retière, Plisson.
–
