Top 14 – La Rochelle wins with the bonus against Clermont (26-13)

A victory in the profession. Without always shining against Clermontois players but not very precise, La Rochelle signed an eighth victory in a row in all competitions and consolidates its second place even before the shock of the “Stadium” between Paris and Toulouse this Saturday evening (9:05 p.m.). The Maritimes have picked up another ideal success before challenging Exeter in the Champions Cup semi-finals next week.

Ronan O’Gara’s troop, partly reorganized to play all the tables (Alldritt, Kerr-Barlow, Botia or Dillane were on the bench), was picked up from the start by enthusiastic Auvergnats but weighed down by the two early failures of ‘Anthony Belleau, preferred to the former Rochelais Plisson, facing the poles.

The Maritimes then experienced all the trouble in the world to keep the ball and settle in the opposing camp. But as a realistic dolphin of Stade Toulousain, and faced with the sequence of matches, the reigning European champions relied on their realism. A first time on a charge from Joel Sclavi (16th), a second time on a solitary breakthrough from Boudehent (32nd), then on a third try from Teddy Thomas before the break (40th), well served by Dulin, synonymous with an offensive bonus .

Half an hour of play for Atonio and Alldritt

A short-lived thinning after a test by the very restless Baptiste Jauneau on returning from the locker room (49th), author of his 5th test of the season and the main detonator of the Clermont game. Drafts in the game, the Rochelais certainly took advantage of the opposing defensive weaknesses, but they also displayed difficulties in the game. The entries of Atonio and Alldritt for a good half hour did not bring more fluidity.

More successful against the poles, Belleau brought his team to six points from the Rochelais, before the coup de grace signed Dillyn Leyds at the end of the match for the Rochelais (77th). A precious fourth try which allows the Maritimes to snatch the offensive bonus point and carefully keep their 2nd place before a strong program during the last three days of Top 14 (Toulon and Montpellier at home, Stade Français outside) .

For Clermont, this is the eleventh defeat in a row in all competitions on the move. The end of the season promises to be long for the men of Christophe Urios, who no longer play anything in the soft underbelly of the Top 14.