La Rochelle overthrew Leinster! The Maritimes won the wire against the Irish (24-21), this Saturday evening at the Stade Vélodrome, and won the Champions Cup 2022. Stade Rochelais won the first title in its history and succeeds Stade Toulousain. It is the fourth French club to be crowned.
The Leinster was worn by a impressive collective whose conductor, fly-half Jonathan Sexton, never failed. The Irishman finished with a 6/6 on penalties and scored the vast majority of his team’s points. But opposite, Stade Rochelais was more valiant and Arthur Retière freed the Charentais-Maritimes thanks to a try scored at 79′.
The Irish to experience in the first act
After being surprised by the two penalties (5′ and 9′) scored by the Irish and the intensity put on by Leinster, Stade Rochelais quickly caught up. The Maritimes responded with a nice group test (10′) scored by the three-quarter wing Raymond Rhule and transformed Ihaia West. A beautiful opposition of style in a first act where the two teams were enterprising but very solid defensively.
The Bagnards were slightly foiled at the end of the first period and the Irish took the opportunity to capitalize and widen the gap at the break. Jonathan Sexton, this team’s metronome du Leinster allows Leinster to return to the locker room with a slight advantage (12-7).
Arthur Retière, the savior
The Maritimes were on alternating current. They first came back from the locker room well by scoring a penalty (42′). Then, they lost their footing until the hour mark, leaving penalties in front of the poles for a Jonathan Sexton who does not tremble (48′, 53′). The lightning came from Pierre Bourgarit. The hooker scored the test of hope for the Charentais-Maritimes (61 ‘), transformed by the very precise Ihaia West. But in the process, the second row Thomas Lavault makes a mistake and takes a yellow card. He leaves his team at 14 in the last quarter of an hour and the Irish take the opportunity to go back in front (21-17 at 65′).
After a unbreathable streakwhich lasted nearly five minutes, the Rochelais pushed and scored the try that allowed them to get ahead of the Irish a few minutes from time (79′).
– PASCAL GUYOT / AFP
Crazy La Rochelle
The party started around the Old Port. It will certainly last very late into the night. A moment of jubilation and history in communion. For eternity. Sunday, the heroes will enjoy a walkabout in a double-decker bus at the end of the day. More details to come on the program of festivities. In the meantime, you have to savor. Proudly.