La Rochelle seized control of their Top 14 encounter with Bordeaux-Bègles at Stade Marcel-Deflandre on Saturday, with scrum-half Antoine Le Garrec and winger Josua Lagivala combining for two first-half tries to put the home side ahead 17-3 at the break. The victory keeps La Rochelle in contention for automatic qualification to the Champions Cup, while UBB’s hopes of securing a top-six finish took a significant hit in the race for European places.
The match, which kicked off at 2:30 p.m. Local time (1:30 p.m. UTC), began with both sides trading penalties as they tested each other’s defensive structure. Bordeaux-Bègles, seeking to close the gap on the top four, drew first blood through a Benoit Paillaugue penalty in the 12th minute after La Rochelle was penalized for offside at the ruck. But the home side responded swiftly, with Le Garrec slicing through a gap created by a powerful driving maul to score in the 18th minute. The conversion by Antoine Hastoy made it 7-3.
Just ten minutes later, La Rochelle doubled their lead. After a turnover in midfield, the ball was shipped wide to Lagivala, who used his explosive pace to beat two defenders before touching down in the corner. Hastoy’s conversion from the touchline was unsuccessful, leaving the score at 12-3. The Fijian international, who joined La Rochelle from Pau in the summer, has now scored four tries in his last five Top 14 appearances, showcasing his growing influence in the back three.
The turning point came shortly before halftime when Le Garrec intercepted a loose pass from UBB fly-half Matthieu Jalibert near the 22-meter line. He sidestepped a covering defender and raced 35 meters to score under the posts. Hastoy converted to make it 17-3, a lead that proved insurmountable as Bordeaux-Bègles struggled to generate consistent ball possession in the second half.
Statistically, La Rochelle dominated the first 40 minutes with 68% territory and 72% possession. They completed 89% of their tackles and won 12 of 15 rucks contested in Bordeaux-Bègles’ half. Le Garrec made 18 carries for 92 meters and two tackles, while Lagivala beat four defenders on his 68 meters. In contrast, UBB managed only 89 meters of total gain and were penalized six times for infringements at the breakdown.
The result leaves La Rochelle third in the Top 14 table with 42 points, just two behind second-place Toulouse and four behind leaders Racing 92. With four rounds remaining, the Maritimes are firmly in the hunt for a top-two finish, which would grant them direct qualification to the Champions Cup quarterfinals and home advantage in the playoffs. Bordeaux-Bègles, meanwhile, remain sixth with 34 points — three behind fifth-place Lyon and four behind fourth-place Clermont — making their path to the top six increasingly precarious.
Injury concerns also emerged for UBB during the match. Centre Nicolas Depoortère was replaced in the 28th minute after appearing to twist his left knee in a tackle. Post-match, head coach Yannick Bru confirmed the player would undergo scans on Sunday but did not rule out a significant absence. “Nico felt something in his knee and we didn’t want to take any risks,” Bru said. “We’ll wait for the imaging, but it’s not looking promising at this stage.” Depoortère has started 16 of La Rochelle’s 20 Top 14 games this season and is a key distributor in their midfield.
La Rochelle’s head coach Ronan O’Gara praised his team’s discipline and execution. “We stuck to the game plan,” he said. “Antoine and Josua were outstanding, but it was the collective effort that made the difference. We controlled the tempo, won the collisions, and made them play without the ball — which is exactly how we want to play.” O’Gara, in his third season at the club, has guided La Rochelle to back-to-back Champions Cup finals appearances and remains a strong candidate for Coach of the Year.
The win also extends La Rochelle’s home dominance in the Top 14. They have now won 11 of their last 12 league matches at Stade Marcel-Deflandre, losing only to Toulouse in December 2023. Their defensive record at home is particularly impressive: they have conceded more than 16 points in just two of those 12 games.
Looking ahead, La Rochelle travel to face Lyon in Round 22, a crucial clash between two teams chasing automatic Champions Cup qualification. Lyon currently sit fifth with 37 points, meaning a win for La Rochelle would extend their lead over their rivals to five points with three games remaining. Bordeaux-Bègles host Castres next weekend, a match they must win to keep their top-six hopes alive.
For fans wanting to follow the rest of the Top 14 season, official updates are available via the Ligue Nationale de Rugby’s website and app. La Rochelle and Bordeaux-Bègles also provide real-time match information through their respective social media channels and official platforms.
What do you reckon of La Rochelle’s performance? Can they maintain this form and secure a top-two finish? Share your thoughts in the comments below and spread the word if you found this breakdown useful.
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