Alldritt made his return, three-quarters of Toulouse did not see the light of day. AFP / XAVIER LEOTY / AFP / XAVIER LEOTY
TOPS/FLOPS – Stade Rochelais won by taking the offensive bonus point against Toulouse who had largely rotated (29-8).
TOPS
The maritime wingers overwhelmed the red and black defense
Dillyn Leyds on one side, Nathan Bollengier on the other. The two men, each on their wings, gave their evening opponents a nightmare. The first first signed what could be considered a decisive pass, with a sublime refocusing kick which led to his team’s second try. He then scored after returning from the locker room, mystifying Capuozzo with a devastating hook. The second, trained at the club and only 19 years old, must have probably made a dream come true. In a sold-out Marcel-Deflandre, he frequently brought danger into the opposing camp with his sharp runs. And ended up being decisive by intercepting a pass from Germain, finishing in the goal. The future seems promised to him.
Grégory Alldritt makes his comeback
We left the La Rochelle captain exhausted after the World Cup, physically and mentally exhausted. Since then, the third French line has taken the time to regenerate, adopting a suitable tan for the occasion. Facing the Haut-Garonnais, he therefore returned to the field with the La Rochelle tunic for the first time since the championship final lost against the same Toulouse residents. In the 54th minute, Marcel Deflandre saw his great evening a little more magnified by the appearance of his captain, whose name was then chanted at length. Grégory then did Alldritt, covering 27 meters with ball in hand thanks to his powerful charges. His return to business should do his family the greatest good.
Paul Boudehent (really) knows how to do everything
Saturday evening, some may have wondered about the real position of number eight Rochelais. The 23-year-old obviously carried out his assigned tasks perfectly, catching an incalculable number of balls in touch and covering 43 meters with ball in hand. But was also the author of a trickster breakthrough like a scrum half, rushing to the closed side before feinting the pass. Or a winger, accelerating along the touchline before Botia’s denied try. His ease with the ball in hand for a guy – all the same! – 1.90 meters and 100 kilos is impressive, and his versatility is an art that he seems to skillfully cultivate.
FLOPS
Three quarters of Toulouse with absent subscribers
By aligning Capuozzo, Chocobares and Guitoune, the Toulouse staff knew not to trust their usual starters. But probably he had not imagined this offensive shortage experienced by the Haut-Garonnais throughout the game… The Toulouse three-quarter line did not, this evening, do justice to the adage “game hands, Toulouse game” which she decided to leave to her opponent. Symbol of this lack of edge, the usual Italian wisp Ange Capuozzo, who only covered fourteen meters with ball in hand, when his direct opponent Bollengier gained 82.
Toulouse distorted the Top 14
Mauvaka, Dupont, Baille, Flament, Aldegheri, Cros, Ramos, Arnold… Here is a non-exhaustive list of Toulouse players left to rest by Ugo Mola, for a championship shock. By attempting these experiments on Saturday evening, the manager of the Rose city club knowingly gave a clear advantage to the Rochelais over other clubs which will face the entire Toulouse armada. For example, when the locals brought back nine of the fifteen players who had played in the Top 14 final last June, the visitors only had one (Chocobares). A choice which raises questions all the more as Toulouse is not as dominant as last year, since it occupies seventh place in the Top 14.
Flood of boxes in Marcel-Defflandre
In the absence of rain, it was the boxes that rained down on the pitch at Stade Rochelais. Whether for accumulation of faults or dangerous gestures, there were three Toulouse residents who spent time in the “fridge”. Brennan, Faasalele and Mallia thus left their teammates at fourteen. As for Lavault, he became the third Rochelais to be excluded this season, by committing a shoulder charge on the face of a Toulouse resident. With Thomas and Danty, the maritime club is therefore the team which has seen the most of its players receive a red card since the start of the season.