La Rochelle took the lead of the Top 14 Sunday evening, at the end of the 6th day, after its success in the shock of the Atlantic against Bordeaux-Bègles (20-6). A great victory, but with the bitterness of not having managed to improve it, despite a first act that was one-sided.
The maritime victory will therefore leave a taste of unfinished business to the 5,000 authorized spectators, who feasted, then waited, without their charges managing to fill them definitively with a fifth point as was the case in Bayonne and against Castres.
But ignoring this little point lost on the way, the performance delivered by the Yellow and Black is nonetheless impressive. Irresistible since the resumption, this new success (the 4th in 5 matches) augurs well for the future for the men of Jono Gibbes, rarely worried by UBB players in full doubt, who chained their third defeat in a row .
Three halftime changes for UBB
La Rochelle did not leave with all its assets, Alldritt and Retière being with the XV of France and vice-captain Vito in the infirmary. But these absences were not detrimental to the maritime steamroller, rewarded from the first act by two tests, signed Kerr-Barlow (17th) and Doumayrou (33rd), originally in the air and at the conclusion of ‘a 60-meter lift.
The score at the break (17-0) was almost even flattering for the Girondins of a Christophe Urios recovered, integrating three new players at the start (Jalibert, Amosa and Dweba) to hope for a click. But the power was sorely lacking at UBB, especially that which could be expected from the two wingers, Lam and Tamanivalu.
At the end of the match, Jalibert tried to keep his people afloat, scoring a penalty, then another (20-6, 70th) in the hope of securing a very hypothetical defensive bonus. Too hypothetical even, since the premises, in management mode in the second half, erected barriers, even obtaining an opportunity to win the offensive bonus at the end of the match. Co-leaders of the Top 14 (with Toulouse and ASM, all three at 18 points), the Maritimes have struck a blow, facing a sinking UBB.
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