At the Velodrome Stadium,
FAVORITES
What a feat! What a feat for La Rochelle who beat Leinster, yet arch-favorites, in the Champions Cup final (24-21). The Maritimes imposed an incredible showdown on the Irish and emerged victorious. As in the semi-finals last year, they bent the Leinstermen thanks to the power of their overpowered forwards. Demonstration of brute force which was decanted in the last moments, after having multiplied the playing times with the “big guys”. La Rochelle becomes the fourth French club to be crowned king of Europe after Toulouse, Brive and Toulon. Confirmation that Stade Rochelais is now part of the big leagues. And to think that the caravel club was still in the second division eight years ago…
Like last year in the semi-final of the Champions Cup at Marcel-Deflandre, the Rochelais made their power speak to disrupt the Irish machine. And it worked well in the first half. The “big arms” did some damage and completely outsmarted Leinster. In the wake of Alldritt, Skelton and Atonio, the Maritimes managed to muzzle the quadruple European champion. In the Rochelaise line of attack, the “hefty” were used either as a decoy or as a percussion, a tactic which made Jonathan Sexton doubt the band. At the end of the match, the powerful forwards still made the difference (like last year) by exploding the blue wall of the Leinstermen. Impressive.
CLAW STRIKES
After having achieved an excellent first half in terms of intensity and combat, Ronan O’Gara’s players could blame themselves for having lacked realism and offensive efficiency. They dominated the debates, the Irish were not on their plate, but the Rochelais returned to the locker room five points behind (12-7). A score that did not reflect the physiognomy of this first act. Alldritt and his teammates had been far too unruly. In the first act, they were penalized nine times. Too much at this level of the competition… Fortunately, they were able to raise the bar when they returned from the locker room. For an impeccable show of force.
Without shining, unable to score a try, Leinster fell from above at the Stade Vélodrome. A match where the Irish could not deploy their millimeter, formidable game, which had blown up Stade Toulousain in the semi-finals. There, the La Rochelle defense completely suffocated them. The province of Dublin, crowned in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018, therefore remains blocked at four continental titles, one unit behind Toulouse. The stainless Jonathan Sexton was part of all these victorious campaigns, but will he now add a fifth star to his huge list of 37 years old? It now seems complicated that he joins Frédéric Michalak, who has lifted the European Cup six times, three times with Toulouse (2003, 2005, 2010) and as many times with RC Toulon (2013, 2014, 2015).
At the Stade Vélodrome or in front of their screen, many have cried foul. The decisions of English referee Wayne Barnes were more than complicated to understand. Especially in the scrum, where the obvious domination of Stade Rochelais has rarely been rewarded. In the rucks, same observation, the Maritimes were regularly sanctioned when they were often one step ahead and they were on their support. Difficult to find there. The funny feeling that the advantage was constantly given to the Irish. Afterwards, we repeat over and over again that we never criticize the man with the whistle in rugby. More problematic for La Rochelle: in this kind of cutthroat match, you have to know how to adapt to the referee who is appointed well before the match. We know how it works, what its habits are. Upon returning from the locker room, Ronan O’Gara’s players were able to adapt and reverse the trend. And Wayne Barnes could only go along with their enormous dominance…
