La Rochelle did the job in the Champions Cup. The title holders went to beat Northampton (31-13) on Saturday to achieve a clear round in this European competition.
Faced with the last of their group, the Maritimes did not fail. In the wake of Levani Botia, comfortable in the rucks and decisive with a hard try (7-3, 27th), the Rochelais took the measure of their hosts reduced to 14 just before the break following a dangerous tackle by Fraser Dingwall.
Without mastering everything, especially the touch, Ronan O’Gara’s men doubled their try capital after a carried ball concluded by Quentin Lespiaucq (50th) before suffering the English awakening materialized by a try from Tom James after a very nice movement ( 13-14, 54th) after Tawera Kerr-Barlow (52nd) left on a yellow card for ten minutes.
Instead of tensing up, the Rochelais started again and sent their captain Grégory Alldritt behind the line after a penaltouche (61st), imitated four minutes later by Lespiaucq for a double (65th).
Offensive bonus in the pocket, they continued their momentum and UJ Seuteni, ideally served by Jules Favre (70th), put an end to all suspense against an opponent who finished at thirteen following the definitive exclusion of Lukhan Salakaia-Loto at the last minute for an elbow to the face.
Racing and Bordeaux sink
Despite a brief lead at the start of the second period, Racing 92 lost to Leinster (36-10) and found itself eliminated from the competition. Fighting, the Parisians dreamed for six minutes at the start of the second half, but lost to a team that has won all its meetings this season.
After a start to the match where the outings of the ball were highly contested on both sides, the Irish took the lead through Jimmy O’Brien for the first try (7-0, 14th).
Racing straightened their heads and despite some clumsiness in attack, they took advantage of a yellow card sent to Jordan Larmour (27th) to pick up on a try from Janick Tarrit (7-5, 32nd). A feat by Russell who infiltrated a mouse hole even allowed them to pass (7-10, 47th).
But Leinster pulled themselves together and six minutes later, Hugo Keenan crossed the line to put the Irish province back in control (12-10, 52nd). For ten minutes, Racing still resisted before giving in to the blue furia, Leinster scoring three tries in eight minutes between the 65th and 73rd.
Same story for the UBB knocked down by Gloucester 26 to 17. The Bordelais were particularly irritable and undisciplined (3 yellow cards) and lost the thread of the meeting. The English, more realistic, were able to take advantage of Bordeaux’s state of mind to make them bend.
Despite an early game where the UBB took the lead, the rest was more complicated against the onslaught of Gloucester. Little by little, the English got into working order and largely dominated the meeting, well helped by the temporary exclusions of the Bordelais.
Clermont is also eliminated. Powerless against the Stormers (30-16), sometimes too undisciplined, the Auvergnats led for a good half hour but they left the great continental competition by the back door.
ASM, which is going through a complicated period and has just named Christophe Urios on its bench, has only scored one try, by the Argentinian Bautista Delguy (61st). Place in the Top 14!
Finally, Castres, who had nothing to hope for, once again fell, this time on the field of the Exeter Chiefs (40-3). The CO finished dead last with a zero point and a match to forget: no try, a red card (Tukino 37th) and three yellow cards (Delaporte 34th, Babillot 38th, Azar 73rd).
