DECRYPTION – After Clermont’s victory against La Rochelle (32-27), Sunday, at the end of the 15th day of Top 14, discover what caught the attention of the editorial staff of the Figaro.
TOPS
End of suspenseful match
There will have been suspense during this 15th day of Top 14. The day after a magnificent performance between UBB and Stade Français (28-33), the tension of a high-stakes end to the match was also there at the Michelin Stadium, between Clermont and La Rochelle (32-27), on Sunday. While the Auvergnats thought they could calmly claim victory with the offensive bonus point and overtake Bordeaux in the standings, they finally saw La Rochelle gradually come back into the lead. The Maritimes, who leave Clermont with the defensive bonus point, could even have snatched a draw, or even a victory at the last minute, on a final possession. If the quality of the game was not always there, the suspense was.
Skip the ad
Plummer’s mastery
The Clermont flyhalf had a very clean match against La Rochelle. Author of a try in the first period, the New Zealander was also effective in his kicking game. In total, he scored 15 points in this meeting. But beyond his accounting contribution, there is also the mark he left in the Clermont game. And on this point, Harry Plummer was impeccable: his footwork to relieve the defense, without being extraordinary, was effective. The Clermont captain carried his team after a difficult start to the match and relieved them when they needed him to keep the score. As a result, the Clermontois are fifth in the Top 14 ranking. And number 10 has a lot to do with it, because it lived up to the event this Sunday evening.
The mentality of La Rochelle
They could have collapsed, given up after a cataclysmic end to the first half. But the Rochelais showed an admirable strength of character, which almost led them to victory. If they ultimately only have to settle for a defensive bonus point, it is more than deserved given what the Maritimes went through during this match, and more generally for several weeks. Talking about an “encouraging defeat” may seem unwelcome, but the content of the second period, in particular on the mental resources shown on the Michelin pitch, must serve as a basis for work for Ronan O’Gara and his men.
FLOPS
Boita, the yellow card that changes everything
However, he started his match well, scoring the first try of the match at the end of the first quarter of an hour, rewarding his team’s good start. But Levani Boita’s match is inevitably marred by his mistake committed at the end of the first half. By collapsing a Clermont maul which was flying into the Rochelais goal, the third row conceded a penalty try and left his teammates at 14 for 10 minutes. During this catastrophic period, the Maritimes conceded two additional tries, with a deficit of 15 points (25-10 MT). A handicap that La Rochelle was never able to overcome and that the Nouvelle-Aquitaine team may regret given their good end to the match.
Clermont’s indiscipline
If La Rochelle was able to hope to obtain a result until the final whistle, the Clermontois also had a lot to do with it. The Jaunards in fact committed an innumerable number of mistakes throughout the match, which cost them penalties and numerous points. After 10 minutes of play, the Auvergnats had already conceded at least three penalties. An illness which followed them throughout the match, and which could have cost them dearly, especially at the end of the match. Twice, they found themselves outnumbered and the Rochelais almost took advantage. It happened this Sunday evening, but it is an issue that will have to be resolved to hope to stay at the top of the rankings.
Skip the ad
The bad luck of La Rochelle… and the Blues
For this trip to Clermont, Stade Rochelais was deprived of around ten players, some of whom would certainly have been starters (Nolann Le Garrec, Jonathan Danty, Pierre Bourgarit). And the match had barely started when another important withdrawal was noted: that of the international pillar, Uini Atonio, who was injured during the warm-up and himself announced to the referee that he could not participate in the match. This was marked by the injury of another player from the French team: Paul Boudehent left at half-time, visibly injured in the back. Two hard blows for La Rochelle… and the Blues? The two players, called up by Fabien Galthié this week for the start of the Six Nations Tournament, were to join Marcoussis tomorrow to prepare with the French team, already deprived of many players. La Rochelle and the Blues have bad luck.
