Long in an unfavorable position, the Rochelais managed to overthrow Leinster to win their second Champions Cup in a row. A success tied to the unshakeable confidence that the maritime group has kept in itself.
In the La Rochelle celebrations at the final whistle, there was as much relief as satisfaction. The Maritimes have awarded their second Champions Cup by overthrowing Leinster in Dublin on Saturday 20 May. A coronation that they went for after a crazy final, which they started on the wrong foot, but which they never let go.
Despite the pressure of the meeting, and the first twelve minutes in hell, the double champion never doubted himself, and his ability to continue writing his story.
Yet they were the only ones to continue to believe so strongly, as they trailed an almost miraculous nine-point deficit at the break in light of the Irish hurricane that swept through the Aviva Stadium at the start. of game.
“We talked about this scenario with a laugh. We wouldn’t change the plan, whether we were behind, even 20-0 or whether we were leading”, revealed the back Brice Dulin at the microphone of France Télévisions after the final whistle. It was not 20 points, but 17 (0) and three tries, all the same. Their worst start this season in the competition.
No room for doubt
But the Rochelais did not give in to panic. Beyond captain Gregory Alldritt’s outburst on Leinster’s second try, the only noticeable loss of composure in the Maritimes camp, they stayed in their game. “There was not a minute of panic in the locker room at half-time”assured a moved Romain Sazy at the end of his last European Cup match, he who will retire at the end of the season. “We completely miss each other during the first twenty minutes, but at halftime; we say to ourselves that we are stepping on them and that we must continue like this.”
Like Real Madrid crowned in the Champions League last year, sure of its qualities and its ability to force destiny, Stade La Rochelais has remained clinging to its certainties: its game, and the level of a group which has never seemed so strong.
As in the past two seasons, the forwards were diligent in recovering, controlling and advancing the ball (58% possession, 59% occupancy), while the backs were ready to make the difference.
Already on the strength of a thrilling first final a year ago in Marseille, the La Rochelle group relied on their collective experience and the lessons of the last two seasons at the highest level. “I play with monsters, we have a crazy team, they are exceptional guys, physically and mentally”praised Romain Sazy. “We didn’t want to miss it.”recognized for his part Grégory Alldritt, who had assured at half-time that the final was not over.
This confidence, the La Rochelle coach Ronan O’Gara had wanted to maintain and spread throughout his ranks throughout the week. Faced with the challenge of a trip to Dublin, against a team that forms the backbone of the best selection in the world – Ireland -, the former Munster player had (already) reversed the reading of the pre-match in assuring that it was not necessarily up to his players to look for the keys, but to others to find how to beat La Rochelle.
It was he again who helped keep his team under control at half-time, as Tawera Kerr-Barlow explained after the final: “Ronan told us to stay focused and believe in ourselves and our system.” Great good has taken him, his players are now double European champions.