the last for the Rochelais, the impotent LOU

Tops

The last of the calendar year for La Rochelle
La Rochelle logically came to the end of a catchy LOU, but too weak in the sector of the closed scrum to hope to win. This victory (25-3), obtained with patience, continued the last match of the calendar year and allows the Maritimes to move from sixth to fourth place in the Top 14. A success linked to the solid performances of its internationals: Alldritt, Dulin, Vito were particularly strong.

The tasty tribute to Gourdon
Smile on her lips, accompanied by her young son. Kevin Gourdon came to make an exit in his image, all in simplicity but all the same shifted. The former third row, who arrived in 2012 at the Rochelle club, was forced to stop his career last week, at the age of 31, due to a heart problem. Shortly before the meeting, he thanked the crowd before symbolically handing the microphone – witness – to his son, who shouted “Go La Rochelle”.

Read also“The adventure was beautiful”, greets the neo-retiree Kévin Gourdon in front of the supporters of La Rochelle

Forward always so conquering
Jostled by playing conditions which made all the players in the game wince when they entered the lawn, the vice-champions of France undermined the right side of the Lyon scrum. In total, they forced Pierre Mignoni’s men to concede 13 penalties, against only 6 whistles against them. The three tests are the work of the forwards: in force on a pick and go from Alldritt (33rd), on a maul via Lavault (67th), and on dynamic loads, including that of Bougarit (74th) to obtain the offensive bonus point.

Flops

Lyon tossed around in the Rochelle storm
The LOU moved on the Atlantic coast with a clear objective: in the event of cumulative victory with a defeat of Montpellier – which did not arrive, the Rouge et Noir could climb on the podium. They set off from Charente-Maritime in sixth place, feeling that they had never been able to be in a position to win. An observation which can be explained by the failures in the sector of the conquest and its hinge which never knew how to find the necessary length at the foot to put in difficulty the opposing defense.

LOU hinge drinks cup
Affected by a host of injuries, Pierre Mignoni and his staff did without the New Zealand opener Sopoaga, on the bench, Doussain, injured with ischios, and Couilloud, the scrum half still affected in the calf. Established, Berdeu and Pélissié suffered from the comparison with West and Dulin, who distilled several good balls in the back of the Lyon front curtain.

A truncated 13th day
Here is the Top 14 back in the throes of the previous season: when it comes to comparing the results of each club, it will now be necessary to take into account a variable number of late matches, thus distorting any legibility. While the European Cup was initially resolved to postpone, the already crowded club schedule could become unsuccessful. On this thirteenth day, four games were canceled. And the next day is looming in a few days, as the number of positive Covid-19 cases is skyrocketing in France.