The series is dizzying. Sunday (4:15 p.m., France 2), Stade Rochelais will arrive at the start of the clash against Leinster with a record to defend. The Maritimes are in fact riding a series of sixteen consecutive victories in the prestigious European competition. Invincible for two years. A domination rewarded by two coronations, each time against the Dublin players in the final. This shows the spirit of revenge which will not fail to animate the Leinstermen, beaten last May in their lair of the Aviva Stadium. An additional snub for a province now deprived of its emblematic playing master, Jonathan Sexton, recently retired.
Since we are talking about records, the Rochelais can aim for a second: achieving three in a row, on May 25 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. A successful performance only once in the history of the competition, by the Rugby Club Toulonnais (2013 to 2015). The Caravelle club could have already done as well if it had not lost the 2021 final against Stade Toulousain. But a final and two titles in three editions already mark the hold of the Rochelais on the Champions Cup.
The question therefore naturally arises. Do they have the means to repeat their exploits? Their start to the season raises questions. A big delay in starting in the Top 14 (only 9th, with five defeats in nine days) and the absence, for the first two European games, of their captain and bulldozer, Grégory Alldritt. The third center line, with his body chewed and his mind worn out, had asked to be put out to pasture until January 1 in order to recover from the efforts made during a very busy year. Request heard by its leaders, concerned about the well-being of their executives and, a little, worried about the repercussions of the recent failure of the French XV in the World Cup. Ronan O’Gara thus admitted this week to having found his French internationals “very marked” by this “second pat on the head” (after the defeat in the Top 14 final against Toulouse, last June). “The boys are still disturbed by the missed opportunity to experience something exceptional in their country. But everyone must accept that this dream is over…”
There is no doubt that Leinster, now coached by the former coach of the world champion Springboks, Jacques Nienaber, will do everything to take advantage. The Irish province, which remains on six victories in its championship (the United Rugby Championship, which also brings together Welsh, Scottish, Italian and South African teams), left its executives to rest last weekend. Indicating that the confrontation at the Marcel-Deflandre stadium was targeted. In order to give the Rochelais their due (they also eliminated them in the semi-finals in 2021, for a solid status of bête noire…), they will present themselves with the best elements of the XV du Trèfle, of the pillar Andrew Porter to scrum half Jamison Gibson-Park, through third row Josh Van der Flier and Caelan Doris…
“It will put us in the mood,” confirms South African winger from Stade Rochelais, Raymond Rhule. Now, everyone knows that if you want to win this competition, you have to beat La Rochelle. There is respect.” Brice Dulin, for his part, sees in the recent, clear victory against Perpignan (36-5) reasons to hope for a new tour de force. “We finally woke up. It woke up Deflandre, too. The communion was good. It was time to play a more successful match to launch this crucial December-January period in the dynamics of a season, appreciates the rear. The Champions Cup is a “one shot”. The slightest lost match can be costly for qualification. So you have to enter the competition well. It’s a big piece and the motivation of the Irish is clear since the calendar came out. But I think we will be ready…”
The moment for a thunderous awakening of the reigning European champions would be particularly well chosen, they who are preparing to experience a month of December on hot coals: travel to South Africa, to Cape Town, to face the Stormers there. next week, then, in the Top 14, two shocks against Stade Français and Stade Toulousain. But Ronan O’Gara’s protégés have repeatedly proven over the past three seasons their ability to take on the toughest challenges.
