Finalist of the last edition and off to a good start this year, Stade Rochelais has no room for error, at home, against Bath, bottom of the English championship.
A daily life constantly turned upside down by the vagaries of the Covid. When it came to returning to the Champions Cup, Stade Rochelais had to deal, like other professional teams, with canceled or postponed matches, and positive cases within its workforce. We adapt as we can, trying to be positive. Last week, the Maritimes match in Toulon was postponed due to numerous cases among the Varois. It will finally be played on Saturday March 19, during the Six Nations Tournament, we learned on Friday. “It’s a shame that it was postponed, we had prepared well for this match. We were frustrated. But we accept because it’s the same rule for everyone, ” says La Rochelle manager Ronan O’Gara.
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These fifteen days without playing will, at least, have had a merit, that of giving the players a little breather. “We have not changed our schedule. It’s also an opportunity to rest a bit, especially for players like Uini (Atonio) and Peter (Bourgarit)», agrees the Irish technician. The last match of the Maritimes dates back to the beginning of the year, when La Rochelle lost on the lawn of Castres (31-30), collapsing in the last moments after leading 24-3. “This defeat hurt my head, admits international hooker Pierre Bourgarit. We were able to cut, so much the better. But if we had to play (against Toulon), we would have done it. We “switched” to something else and got back to work.
Is the European Cup less beautiful this year? Last year, we won a (group) match and qualified
Pierre Bourgarit
Resumption therefore with the European Cup. A competition where the Rochelais now have the status of finalists of the last edition to assume. After their victory over Glasgow in the opening and their draw on green carpet against Bath, Stade Rochelais (4th in Pool A) is in a favorable position to qualify. Voices were raised (Christophe Urios, Camille Lopez) to rail against this edition of the continental games which would be distorted and would not have “more sense“With these matches canceled and these others postponed and then decreed draws. “Is the European Cup less beautiful this year? Last year we won a game (of chicken) and we qualified recalls Pierre Bourgarit, citing the similar case of the UBB. Of course, it’s weird. The decisions of the EPCR please some, displease others. We still have the chance to qualify and we will do everything for it.”
This will go through a success in Delflandre this Saturday against Bath. The fourth time will be the good one: last year, the two confrontations with this English team were canceled, as was the first leg this season. On paper, misstep forbidden for Stade Rochelais against the bottom of the English Premiership (13th and last with only 10 points). Mistrust, however, Bath woke up last weekend by signing against Worcester the first victory of his season. “It’s weird, I grew up in Ireland and Bath were one of the biggest teams in England and Europe. It’s hard to understand their background and how they got there. They won their first game last weekend. It’s a team with a lot of big names. And I told my players, I would not like it to be against us that they play their best game., warns Ronan O’Gara.
The goal is to be better week after week. But that’s not the case this season
Ronan O’Gara
Same mistrust on the side of Pierre Bourgarit: “Things are not working out for them so far. But maybe one day it will come back. This is a team that we do not take lightly at all. Stade Rochelais – which has had its ups and downs this season – remains focused on what it needs to do, what it needs to improve in its game. “Between us, we don’t talk about winning. But what we have to do to get there,” underlines the manager of the Maritimes. The La Rochelle pack is still doing as much damage, the defense is well in place, but the backs could be more efficient. “The goal is to be better week after week. But that’s not the case this season, recognizes O’Gara. We have twenty matches left to improve. I’m confident that forwards and three-quarters can play well together very soon.”
Another problem for the Maritimes: the return of the gauges to 5,000 people in the stadiums. No – or much less – fervent support from the La Rochelle public. Last year, almost behind closed doors, this did not prevent Brice Dulin and his teammates from making light of the Irish from Leinster, in the semi-finals of the European Cup. There, even if they are lacking in confidence, the English of Bath should give themselves up without counting and send the game. They have no choice. “It will be a game with a lot of rhythm, a lot of tempo, assure Ronan O’Gara. But we like these playing conditions. Be careful, however, not to trip over the mat.
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