By scoring in the last moments of the match, the French winger offered victory to La Rochelle (29-26) on Saturday in the knockout stages of the Champions Cup.
The Six Nations finished, the Champions Cup resumed its rights for new European shocks. The only French club in the running, on Saturday April 1, Stade Rochelais won against Gloucester (29-26), in the round of 16 of the competition. In the other meetings of the day, Leinster and Ulster offered the expected spectacle at the Aviva Stadium, with the success of the Dublin favorites (30-15). The Sharks and the Stormers respectively defeated Munster (50-35) and Harlequins (32-28).
The hero of La Rochelle is called Teddy Thomas
The return of the tricolor internationals was expected. However, it is a former member of the XV of France who put on the superhero cape in front of Marcel Deflandre’s audience. Author of a double against Gloucester, whose winning try in the last seconds of the game, Teddy Thomas (75 selections) allowed La Rochelle to chain a 14th consecutive victory in the Champions Cup. Defending champions, the Maritimes are now preparing to face the Saracens or the Ospreys in the quarter-finals of the competition.
South African neophytes ensure in Europe
For the first time in the history of the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup, South African clubs from the United Rugby Championship are involved in the European battle. These arrivals should allow “to intensify competition by bringing new competition to Europe’s elite clubs“, according to the EPCR, the body that governs rugby on the continent. Mission more than successful, much to the chagrin of their competitors.
Twice winners of the Champions Cup (2006 and 2008), Munster have indeed lost heavily on the lawn of the Sharks (50-35), who even allowed themselves to slow down at the end of the game. The Stormers almost paid for their lack of consistency against Harlequins (32-28), but the English woke up too late to hope to overthrow the Cape formation.
At Stade Toulouse, facing the Bulls on Sunday (4 p.m.), to prevent the South African storm from falling on the pink city. The meeting of Antoine Dupont’s teammates will be followed live on France 2 and on the france.tv site.
Ireland still in the European light
The Grand Slam won by the XV of Clover was obviously not enough to satisfy the Irish supporters. The Aviva Stadium was the scene of a clash of rare intensity between two local provinces, Leinster and Ulster, in front of more than 50,000 people. Sovereign during the group stage of this 2022/2023 edition, with a first place in Pool A and four victories in as many games, Leinster confirmed their status as competition favorites by offering themselves their northern neighbor ( 30-15), without being unwavering.