Stade Rochelais tames Saracens and joins Exeter in the semi-finals

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The Maritimes emerged victorious (24-10) from an intense duel against the Sarries, Sunday afternoon, in La Rochelle, to find other English, those of Exeter, in the semi-finals.

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Antoine Hastoy takes a penalty, in the quarter-final of the Champions Cup against Saracens, at the Marcel-Deflandre stadium in La Rochelle, Sunday April 9. (ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP)

The defending champions held their rank. Direction the semi-finals of the Champions Cup for the Rochelais, after having defeated, Sunday, April 9, Saracens in the quarter-finals (24-10). Thanks to the success of Antoine Hastoy (4 /5 penalties, 1/2 conversion), and two tries from New Zealander Tawera Kerr-Barlow (34th, 59th), lhe Stade Rochelais made the difference. The French fly-half confirmed his status as the competition’s top scorer (73 points).

The Maritimes will find in the semi-finals, in Bordeaux, Exeter, who defeated the Cape Stormers (42-17) yesterday. There will therefore be two French clubs in the last four, since the Toulouse stadium also won on Saturday by dominating the Sharks (54-20) and will be opposed in the other part of the table to the formidable Leinster.

The defending champion opens the door to the semi-finals with this second try in this match, the double for Tawera Kerr Barlow at the conclusion of an individual exploit by Levani Botia. Marcel-Deflandre is in fusion. Antoine Hastoy misses the transformation (21-3).

It took until the 34th minute to see the first try scored at the Marcel-Deflandre stadium, on a shift from Kerr-Barlow, after a huge streak from Rochelais within 22 meters of Sarries. A breath of fresh air for the Yellow and Blacks who, after the first ten minutes at a brisk pace (4 penalties conceded by the Saracens), found themselves cornered in their camp by offensive English.

La Rochelle defense solicited

Never really calm, despite a first act concluded with a lead of thirteen points (16-3), the solution again came from New Zealander Kerr-Barlow on the hour mark, in conclusion to the good work of Brice Dulin and Levani Botia, even as the English incursions intensified (21-3).

The Saracens, dangerous on recovery balls, came up against the La Rochelle defense and paid dearly for their indiscipline (18 penalties conceded). Multiplying the sequences of pick and go, the English stayed in contact thanks to a try from Eroni Mawi (66th) but this remained insufficient to overthrow the defending champion, even for the three-time winner of the event (2016, 2017, 2019).

The third row of La Rochelle Levani Botia was voted man of the match in La Rochelle's victory against Saracens (24-10). The Fijian prefers to highlight the strength of the collective rather than his individual performance.

Les Rochelais sign their fourteenth consecutive victory in the Champions Cup and will join the last four for the third consecutive year.


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