This Saturday at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Stade Rochelais meets the formidable Leinster, on the third day of the Champions Cup.
West’s test! (77th, 22-24)
What a scenario at the Aviva Stadium, La Rochelle regains the advantage! In an endless sequence, Le Garrec plays on the outside, West accelerates and fakes the cross with Nowell before diving into the goal! Garrec transforms!
La Rochelle rushes into touch (74th)
Five minutes to go at the Aviva Stadium. Penalty for the Maritimes, who rush into touch within the opposing 22 meters.
Henshaw test! (71st, 22-17)
The hammer blow for La Rochelle! How effective the Irish are, Gibson-Park gives Conan who sets for Henshaw. Central Leinster accelerates and resists the latest returns. Prendergast still misses the conversion.
Sortie de Levani Botia (69e)
Huge match from the Fijian, who gives way to Fraindt.
Van der Flier essay! (67th, 17-17)
The punishment for the Rochelais! On Leinster’s first positive action in this second act, Conan sent a long jump pass to his friend on the third line. Josh van der Flier puts on the canes and finishes in the in-goal. A model of efficiency. Prendergast does not transform.
The Rochelais very close to a new test! (64th)
The ball was buried five meters from the Irish line, while the Maritimes had moved up the whole field on yet another breakthrough from Levani Botia. We can no longer count the number of opportunities, against the Irish who were completely overwhelmed.
Leinster back (62nd)
The Irish recovered a penalty and will be able to play a first ball in this second half.
West’s test! (58th, 12-17)
The Rochelais finally find the fault! It’s deserved, after an exceptional but little rewarded start to the second half for Ronan O’Gara’s men. On the right side, Latu is served by Le Garrec and does a nice job of transmitting after contact to West. Garrec transforms.
The impeccable Garrec! (55th, 12-10)
The Breton scores three new points and brings his own to two lengths behind Leinster.
Penalty for Stade Rochelais! (54th)
Excellent scrum from the Maritimes, in front of the poles, on the 22 meters. Le Garrec takes the points.
50:22 by Antoine Hastoy! (51st)
He has been excellent since he came on in Dublin. Magnificent kick from the French international to reverse the pressure. This is a Latu throw coming.
Leinster at full strength again (49th)
The Irish suffered enormously during the last ten minutes, but came away without conceding any points. Scrum to come Gibson-Park introduction in his 40 meters.
Wardi messes up again! (47th)
Acceleration from Niniashvili who reaches the 22 meters and serves Wardi inside for a ready try! But the tricolor pillar is hampered by Hastoy and commits a forward!
Another big opportunity for La Rochelle! (46th)
What a start to the second half from the Maritimes, who are back within 22 meters of Leinster. After several periods of play, the Irish managed to recover the ball on a counter-ruck.
What a La Rochelle sequence! (42nd)
The Maritimes are unleashed and create a gap on the left side. The ball reaches West who tries to find Alldritt on his outside. The Irish defense read everything and shut down the offense.
Here we go again!
Kick-off of the second act given by West. The Irish are still outnumbered for a few minutes.
It’s the break! (12-7)
At the end of a tight first act, the Maritimes fell to five points behind Leinster at the break.
What an opportunity for La Rochelle! (39th)
Great activity from the La Rochelle forwards, like this percussion from Grégory Alldritt. West picks up the ball and reaches a few meters from the goal but the opener commits a forward. Another wasted opportunity.
Yellow card against McCarthy! (37th)
Leinster in the tough! The international second row ends the first period on the bench for an offside position on a positive action from the Maritimes.
Penalty for the Maritimes (36th)
Big melee from the La Rochelle pack who recovered a good penalty on the halfway line. Hastoy finds the touchline in the opposing camp.
The dynamics are reversed (35th)
Non-straight throw from Sheehan near the center line. Behind his scrum, Le Garrec will be able to start the game just before the break.
What activity of Botia (33rd)
Another ball scratched by the Fijian who is gaining momentum at the end of the first period. The Rochelais are much better and pose problems for Leinster.
Niniashvili test! (30th, 12-7)
The Rochelais finally find the fault! Behind the scrum, Le Garrec serves Hastoy who achieves a sublime framing-overflow before serving the Georgian winger, who flattens into a corner. Successful transformation by Le Garrec.
Scrum at five meters for La Rochelle (29th)
Leinster are penalized for an offside position. Alldritt opts for the showdown.
Little pace (27th)
The intensity of the match has largely decreased in the last few minutes. Stoppages in play and inaccuracies are increasing.
Another penalty against La Rochelle (25th)
The Maritimes are struggling to find their rhythm in this meeting and are still penalized. Concern for Grégory Alldritt who remains on the ground, visibly injured in the shoulder.
What Leinster defense (22nd)
Yet with numerical superiority, the Maritimes are incapable of creating a gap against the incredibly disciplined Irish. After several times of play, Conan is scratching and even recovers a penalty.
Botia’s breakthrough! (19th)
What acceleration from the Fijian in the middle of the field, served by Le Garrec after a quickly played penalty! At the end of the race on the 40 meters, Botia hits a kick far too deep. Another missed opportunity.
Entrance to Hastoy (18th)
Stunned by a contact a few minutes ago, Jules Favre is forced to give up his place to Antoine Hastoy.
In front of Kenny (17th)
Magnificent kick pass from Gibson-Park. Joshua Kenny tries to bring the ball back towards a teammate inside but a forward put an end to the action.
Gibson-Park in his hand (16th)
The Leinster scrum-half uses his foot perfectly in the open field and occupies the opposing camp. A dream first quarter of an hour for the Irish, despite a yellow card a few minutes ago.
The Maritimes spoil (14th)
Throw a few meters from the goal missed by Latu, who lobbed his jumper Grégory Alldritt. Leinster can break free and put the pressure back on the opposing camp.
Exit of Frawley (13th)
Hard blow for Leinster. The Irish international was hit in the foot and had to give way to Osborne.
Yellow card against O’Brien! (13th)
The Irish winger receives a yellow card for a voluntary forward at the entrance to his 22 meters. The Maritimes had succeeded in creating the gap. They will play in numerical superiority for ten minutes.
The La Rochelle reaction (11th)
Finally a positive action with this percussion from Skelton in the Irish camp. On the action, Conan made a mistake. Throw coming for Latu a few meters from the end.
Kenny’s try for the double! (9th, 12-0)
The winger punishes the Maritimes again! West is blocked in his 22 meters by taking too long to clear. Excellent at the start of the match, Joshua Kenny once again flattens in the corner. Prendergast adjusts the sights and transforms.
The Rochelais in difficulty (6th)
Very delicate start to the match for Ronan O’Gara’s men, stifled by Irish pressure. Nolann Le Garrec uses his foot to relieve his family. But the blue waves are coming back.
Kenny try! (3rd, 5-0)
The winger finds the fault! New launch of play after touch from Leinster. The Maritimes are quickly overwhelmed, Prendergast still serves O’Brien, who gives to Frawley. The Irish full-back fixes and gives to Joshua Kenny, the latter flattens in a corner on his left wing. Transformation missed by Prendergast.
Kenny close to the test! (1st)
First ammunition for the Irish. Prendergast serves O’Brien who pierces full field, the ball bounces and Kenny is pushed into touch a few meters from the La Rochelle in-goal, left side. Hot weather for the Maritimes.
Here we go!
Kick-off given by Sam Prendergast. Good match with us.
Release of the two formations!
Grégory Alldritt and Caelan Doris lead their respective teammates onto the pitch at the Aviva Stadium, well-stocked for the occasion.
The ranking of group 3
- Stormers (9 points)
- Leinster (9 points)
- Harlequins (6 points)
- La Rochelle (5 points)
- Leicester (0 point)
- Bayonne (0 point)
As a reminder, the first four in each group qualify for the final phase. The fifth is returned to the Challenge Cup, when the last one is eliminated from all European competitions.
Leinster’s good series
The Irish are currently on a streak of seven consecutive victories in all competitions. Eliminated last season in the semi-final against a surprising Northampton, Caelan Doris’ teammates certainly want to set the sights by reaching the final.
The Rochelais are at the Aviva Stadium
A test of character for the Rochelais
A classic of European rugby. With in memory the two epic finals against Leinster, in 2022 and 2023, which crowned Stade Rochelais, the fourth French club to be crowned European champion after Toulouse, Brive and Toulon. Epic, tough and fiery duels. This Sunday, at the Aviva Stadium (more than 35,000 seats have been sold!), Dubliners and Maritimes will cross swords for the seventh time in as many Champions Cup seasons since this epic semi-final won in 2021 by Ronan O’Gara’s troop in an empty Marcel-Deflandre stadium due to the Covid-19 health crisis.
The full article by our journalist Arnaud Coudry can be found right here.
The La Rochelle route
After a convincing victory against Leicester on the first day, the Maritimes staff opted for a stalemate to face the Stormers in Cape Town. Grégory Alldritt and his team are in 4th place in group 3 before challenging the Leinstermen. A victory would allow Stade Rochelais to approach the reception of Harlequins with serenity.
The Stade Rochelais XV!
Very big team aligned by Ronan O’Gara. Le Garrec, Alldritt, Botia, Jegou, Skelton and Atonio are all on the field to try to create a great feat in Dublin.
The starting XV: Leyds ; Nowll, Favre, Daunivucu, Niniashvili ; West, Le Garrec ; Allert, Botia, Jegou ; Skelton, Kante-Samba ; Atonio, Latu, Wardi.
Substitutes: Lespiaucq, Penverne, Kuntelia, Douglas, Fraindt, Berjon, Hastoy, Bollengier.
The Leinster XV!
Several Irish internationals are lined up. XXL third line with Doris, Van der Flier and Conan, when the Gibson-Park-Prendergast hinge will guide the Leinstermen. New Zealand international Rieko Ioane, who arrived from the Blues at the beginning of December, is also established.
The starting XV: Frawley ; O’Brien, Ioane, Henshaw, Kenny ; Prendergast, Gibson-Park ; Doris, Van der Flier, Conan ; Ryan, J. McCarthy ; Clarkson, Sheehan, P. McCarthy.
Substitutes: Kelleher, Cahir, Sparrow, Mangan, Deegan, McGrath, Byrne, Osborne.
Good evening everyone!
Welcome to the website of Figaro to follow live the clash of the 3rd day of the Champions Cup between Leinster and Stade Rochelais. Kick-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Aviva Stadium.
Posts will appear here
Close
