In the midst of the Covid-19 health crisis, the stands at the Marcel-Deflandre stadium are empty for this clash between Stade Rochelais and Leinster. At stake: a place in the final of the 2021 edition. But the fervent La Rochelle public gives their team all their support, before and after the match, by blowing smoke bombs and singing at the top of their lungs in front of the stadium. Impressively powerful, in the wake of a monstrous pack, the Maritimes manage to recover from a failed start to the match, marked by culpable indiscipline and with a try from Tadhg Furlong (8th), and explode the Irish at the hour of play thanks to tries from Grégory Alldritt (65th) and Will Skelton (73rd), author of a titanic match.
The big man of this match is the New Zealand opener of Rochelais, Ihaia West, although renowned for his inconsistency, but who that day kept his team afloat for a long time and achieved a full success against the poles with 22 points: 5 penalties, 2 conversions and a drop. Only one miss, and again, he hit the post on a long-distance attempt. Stade Rochelais – which has only been playing in the Top 14 since 2014 – achieved one of the greatest successes in its recent history at the high level, after two Top 14 semi-finals (in 2017 and 2019) and a Challenge Cup final (defeat against Clermont 36-16 in 2019). A short-lived joy since Stade Rochelais lost in the final at Twickenham to Toulouse (17-22). But the machine is well and truly launched…
A glowing Vélodrome stadium. Totally stunned by the feat that Stade Rochelais has just achieved. After three defeats in the final (European Challenge in 2019, Champions Cup and Top 14 in 2021), the Maritimes finally touch their Holy Grail by bringing down the ogre of Leinster (24-21), four continental crowns in the trophy cabinet . It’s the first title in the club’s history at the Caravel and it’s magnificent. Both Ronan O’Gara’s players showed unwavering character and faith. Once again, the Rochelais showed indiscipline (13 penalties conceded, including four for Dany Priso alone), they trailed at the break 7-12 and the boot of Jonathan Sexton (6 penalties) and Ross Byrne (1) punishes each of their mistakes.
But Leinster does not score. Unlike the Maritimes who scored two tries by Raymond Rhule (10th) and Pierre Bourgarit (61st), before Arthur Retière (79th), who replaced Arthur Berjon (64th), delivered a whole people after an endless and brutal sequence of “pick and go”s in front of the Irish line. “We learned that reaching the final is not an end,” said Grégory Alldritt. Last year, it was almost a surprise to reach the final at Twickenham. I still have this image of the Toulouse people lifting the cup in front of us. That’s really been our motivation all season.” La Rochelle becomes the fourth French club to win the competition, after Toulouse (1996, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2021), Brive (1997) and Toulon (2013, 2014, 2015). Impressive machine from La Rochelle.
We take the same and start again. And Stade Rochelais immediately fell into its trap, with a catastrophic start to the match, conceding a scathing 17-0 after three tries conceded in less than a quarter of an hour on textbook actions, notably a superb combination in touch. Few teams would have recovered after such a poor start to the match, even more so at the Aviva Stadium where the Irish played in front of their home crowd. But, once again, the Rochelais are not going to give up and make the Leinstermen doubt, although they are more solid in front and in the rucks this time. Centers Jonathan Danty (19th) and Ulupano Seuteni (37th) allow the Maritimes to make up part of their deficit before returning from the locker room (24-13).
Arriving from Pau in the off-season, fly-half Antoine Hastoy holds his place, particularly in his role as scorer (two penalties, three conversions). And it is once again in force that Ronan O’Gara’s team bends the Dublin province thanks to a try from pillar Georges-Henri Colombe (71st). Exactly like in Marseille a year ago! Before this final, Leinster arrived confident of its strength after having corrected Toulouse again in the semi-final (for the third time in four years) but it fell once again against its nemesis. This is the greatest feat for the Rochelais, who achieve a double that only Leicester (2001, 2002), Leinster (2011, 2012), Toulon (2013, 2014, plus 2015) and Saracens (2016, 2017). There are no qualifiers to describe what the band has just accomplished at Ronan O’Gara.
End of series for La Rochelle. For the first time in four confrontations, the Maritimes lost to the Leinstermen (9-16) whom they had traumatized for a long time. At Marcel-Deflandre, and under downpours, the Irish won with mastery (16-9) and put an end to their black streak. A setback which confirms the post-World Cup difficulties of Stade Rochelais, the restart of the internationals (without Grégory Alldritt who is taking a break after the World Cup) proving complicated. On several occasions, O’Gara’s players lacked control and even lost their nerve, as evidenced by this unusual fight at this level which led to the two yellow cards addressed to Jonathan Danty and Joe McCarthy (12th).
Leinster shows that there is life after Jonathan Sexton, who has retired, and Ciaran Frawley, who entered the game quickly (39th), did not tremble when he scored three penalties. Efficient and determined, the Irish showed mastery – even without executives like James Lowe, Tadhg Furlong and Jack Conan – unlike the Maritimes, feverish and approximate. While his team is in a complicated period, Ronan O’Gara plays down the drama: “It wasn’t a final tonight. It gets a little complicated for qualification but there are three matches left.” The Rochelais will follow up with a second defeat during the group stage, falling narrowly to the South African Stormers (21-20), before signing two convincing victories against the English Leicester (45-12) and Dirty (24-37). Enough to get their ticket to the round of 16 and take their revenge in Cape Town (21-22) last week. Another revenge is expected against Leinster this Saturday…
