Stade Rochelais did not tremble to sign a prestigious victory against the English from Exeter (47-28), Sunday, in Bordeaux.
La Rochelle will defend their title in Dublin. The Rochelais made a show of force to dismiss Exeter (47-28) in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup, Sunday April 30, at the Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux. In full success, they put on a show, scoring no less than seven tries against the overwhelmed English, and breaking the record for points scored in the European semi-finals. Thanks to this prestigious victory, the Maritimes, European champions in title, validate their ticket to play a third final in a row. They will face Leinster, who lost Stade Toulousain on Saturday, at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
In a jam-packed Matmut Atlantique, filled with La Rochelle supporters, the Maritimes held their rank as reigning European champions. Shaken at the very start of the match by a conquering Exeter team, they then took control of the match and rolled out their rugby to make short work of their opponents, and sign a record victory on the European stage.
Everything got carried away very quickly in Bordeaux. Even before the tenth minute of play, Raymond Rhule had responded to the English opener, on a sublime inspiration at the foot of Antoine Hastoy, to come back level. In full confidence, on a series of eight consecutive successes in all competitions, the Rochelais capitalized on this good reaction. Ulupano Seuteni allowed his team to take control (23rd), before Gregory Alldritt and Tawera Kerr-Barlow added two more numerical superiority achievements (32nd, 39th).
An offensive festival for 47 record points
Successful in getting into the in-goal, they also knew how to respond to the physical challenge imposed by the English. But they left a few elements in the battle, like Levani Botia, released on concussion protocol after a huge contact, and who could not regain his place on the field.
Upon returning from the locker room, Ronan O’Gara’s men drove the point home. Raymond Rhule scored twice (44th), and Pierre Bourgarit also went to visit the English in-goal (53rd). On their penultimate achievement, scored by Kerr-Barlow and transformed by Hastoy, they even offered themselves the record for points in the semi-finals of the European Cup, while the three English tries in the second period did not change anything .
La Rochelle becomes the third team to qualify for three finals in a row in the most prestigious European competition, after two other French representatives, Toulouse (2003, 2004, 2005) and Toulon (2013, 2014, 2015). To keep their trophy, the Maritimes will challenge Leinster, on their lawn in Dublin, in a remake of the 2022 final which already smells of powder.