Last week, after the resounding victory against Exeter in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup, Grégory Alldritt and Romain Sazy were unaware, they said, of having signed a ninth consecutive victory. There are added one more. Stade Rochelais, dominating Toulon at the Vélodrome on Saturday evening, increased its series to ten successes in a row in all competitions. Ruthless winning machine, which scored a seventh success away from its bases, a record this season in the Top 14.
“Compared to the start of the season when we experienced a lot of disappointment, we still needed to recover points, recalls international hooker Pierre Bourgarit, in particular with reference to the three losses conceded this year to Marcel-Deflandre. It was important to us. We managed to do it.”
All counters are green. With 10 points ahead of Stade Français two days before the end of the regular season, the Maritimes have almost their ticket to the semi-finals of the Top 14 in their pocket. Even if, mathematically, it is not yet done. . But it would take an unlikely combination of circumstances for Ronan O’Gara’s players to have to go through the play-offs. “We are pretty good from an accounting point of view even if we are not yet qualified, Stade Français can still overtake us, even if they need two offensive bonuses against Lyon and then at home. It’s not done yet, even if the media will say so,” smiles Pierre Bourgarit.
On the lawn of the Vélodrome, where they were crowned European champions last year against Leinster (24-21), the Maritimes showed impressive composure and realism. Even if everything was not perfect (problems in the scrum, indiscipline), the demonstration against RC Toulon was sparkling. The Varois never seemed able to derail the steamroller from La Rochelle, intractable in defense.
“It was not super pleasant to watch on TV but it was a big showdown. We almost cracked several times but I think we had a lot of character, we knew how to defend our line like relentless, greeted Grégory Alldritt at the microphone of Canal . We are very happy with this victory against Toulon because it was not done.
Black point of the Marseille evening, there was a little breakage. Winger Teddy Thomas had to leave his teammates in the 26th minute of play, hit in both legs “between the calf and the ankle”, explained manager Ronan O’Gara. For Argentine prop Joel Sclavi, it’s just a black eye, but the concern is greater for Samoan center Ulupano Seuteni, excellent against Exeter, who suffered a shoulder injury (46th ). “We have a final in two weeks so I quickly told him to go out to recover because I need him,” plays down O’Gara.
Still, outing after outing, La Rochelle impresses with the confidence it exudes. “It’s always important to look ahead. We had decided to have a Monday-Tuesday off to rest well. The players are hungry, they like to play. It’s perfect for us. I have an experienced team for the big matches. We like to win”, insists Ronan O’Gara quoted by Rugbyrama. Next week, the European champion will travel to the French champion, Montpellier, in full capilotade after his humiliating loss at home against Brive.
From there to leaving several executives at rest, in anticipation of the telluric shock which will follow at the Aviva Stadium against Leinster? Ronan O’Gara brushes this off: “I need my whole squad. We will go to Montpellier to win, not to shoot. No question of breaking the beautiful dynamic. “We may exude a lot of serenity seen from the outside but the group provides a lot of work so that we can have fun like that on the ground,” insists Pierre Bourgarit.
And the Gers hooker with 7 selections to hammer: “It’s true that, for a few months, it’s been pinning rather well and the victories are linked. We are going to prepare to finish the job with this final in Dublin between the last two Top 14 matches. The series is good but we have to keep a cool head and continue. The new La Rochelle ogre is (very) far from satisfied.
