TOPS
The weeks pass and the matches all look more or less alike for the Rochelais. Victory at the final whistle but above all an impression of domination that could almost be scary. The people of La Rochelle exude a feeling of never being in danger and constantly in control of the situation. This evening they did not dominate the meeting but knew how to be incisive and effective at each incursion into the opposing camp. Versatile, physical, fast, lucid and efficient, does this Stade Rochelais team really have a weak point?
Recalled during the last 6 Nations tournament, Baptiste Serin clearly shows his ambitions to be in the France group during the 2023 World Cup. And as much to say that he walks the talk. Author of a new high-flying performance, despite the defeat, he assumes his ambitions. Hyperactive all over the field, he did not escape in defense, knew how to dictate and alternate his team’s play and even pulled off a few brilliant shots of which he has the secret, such as a sublime 50-22 from 30 meters. The scrum half position is more than full in the France team…
FLOPS
La Rochelle’s performances are so high-level that it is difficult to point out the weak points. But in preparation for the upcoming final against Leinster in the Champions Cup, it is necessary to note the difficulties encountered by the Yellow and Black scrum. Sanctioned several times (14 penalties in total), the scrum will have to be present in the final.
The first period of the RCT would have deserved a better score than a 10-5 at the break. And that could have had a completely different impact on the rest of the meeting. But with two failures from West and a miss from Baptiste Serin, the Varois lost 8 points against the poles. Mistakes that are very expensive in the face of La Rochelle’s efficiency. If it hadn’t been for his failures, the two teams could have gone even at the break and who knows what turn the game might have taken? More generally, unlike their evening opponents, the entire Toulon team lacked efficiency in the scoring areas. A too sterile domination.
Receiving the Stade Rochelais necessarily means gala evening lately. But as shown by the relocation of the UBB to Matmut Atlantique (36-6 defeat against La Rochelle) or that of Bayonne to Anoeta (20-30 defeat against Pau), changing stadiums once a year does not is not necessarily the best decision. This Saturday evening, the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille was far from full and the atmosphere of Mayol was not felt. Undefeated since December 4 at home, the series ended tonight. The atmosphere in Mayol is so special that it gives an advantage to the RCT. In Marseille, it’s not the same match.
This is the hard blow of the evening for La Rochelle. Sparkling in the center of the Yellow and Black attack in recent weeks, UJ Seuteni had to leave the pitch with an injury (shoulder?) and could miss the next few weeks of competition. A significant loss for the Maritimes, already deprived of Jonathan Danty. It is to be hoped that he will be back before the final against Leinster scheduled for May 20.
