After the debacle suffered against the Bayonnais, the Maritimes welcome the Bordelais this Sunday, with the obligation to redeem themselves. La Rochelle supporters are not worried.
On paper, there is absolutely nothing alarming. Before this seventh day of the Top 14, Stade Rochelais is 3rd in the ranking, with a largely positive record of four victories for two losses. With cards made against Pau (49-25) and Lyon (43-22). Better, Ronan O’Gara’s team achieved away success, winning on the wire in Créteil against Racing 92 (16-17), which means that the Maritimes have already done “as well” than last year when they only won once away from home (in Pau 20-29, last January). But there is a “but”…
Last weekend, La Rochelle fell spectacularly against Bayonne (37-7) who had relocated their match to San Sebastián. A worrying shipwreck as the Rochelais seemed to sink body and soul. For Ronan O’Gara, in this kind of debacle, “you lose credibility and respect”. even speaking of“a culture shock” : “If you accept a performance like that, you dilute your value. The moment you do that, you attack your personality. You open the door to all kinds of excuses…”
We also pay for three full seasons with these five finals out of six possible. Our players, we forget all too often, are human like everyone else
Gwenaël, member of the Bagnards Rochelais
A reaction is therefore expected, this Sunday, at Marcel-Deflandre with the arrival of Union Bordeaux-Bègles, leader who seems to have well digested a much more humiliating defeat, that in the Top 14 final against the ogre Toulouse, but who travels without several executives (Jalibert and Lucu resting, Depoortère injured). The question is therefore whether the setback against Bayonne was a simple accident or the sign of a deeper evil. We took the pulse of several supporters. “It’s hard to say if this will leave any traces, explains Axel, who humorously describes himself as a “chauvinistic supporter” of the Maritimes. We have already seen big defeats which, on the contrary, have made it possible to restart seasons, so it can go in both directions. Against Bayonne, we took a slap, but I think we have the means to get back on track. On the other hand, if we mess up against Bordeaux, there’s a risk that things will really get confusing and become complicated…”
For Gwenaël, member of the Bagnards Rochelais, a famous group of supporters of the caravel club, “such a defeat, putting aside the score, without the manner and with the attitude displayed, necessarily scores. Both players, staff and supporters. This is not to be forgotten either. We must remember this so as not to repeat this poor performance again.” An awakening, a burst of pride is nevertheless hoped for Sunday. “A completely different face is expected on Sunday against UBB in Deflandre, he continues. And as always the 16th man will be there behind our players.”
With last season without a final, a first since 2019, the question legitimately arises as to whether Stade Rochelais might not be at the end of the cycle, struggling to renew itself. But Gwenaël refuses to sound the alarm. “Last season was very special between a World Cup which affected the players mentally and a club season marked by an infirmary filled as rarely in numbers and over time, he recalls. We also pay for three full seasons, just before, with these five finals out of six possible. Our players, we forget all too often, are human like everyone else. For a moment the body marks time and therefore if it is collective, the team is less dominant.
Perhaps a little renewal or new faces could have given some momentum to maintain this dynamic throughout the season
Axel, La Rochelle supporter
Axel, for his part, recalls that his club “has focused a lot on continuity in recent seasons with a stable squad, and it is a choice that has many advantages. But at the same time, we have also lost key elements like Roman Punishment et Victor Vito who were natural leaders on the field and in the locker room. Obviously, I think their absence is felt, especially at times when we need to re-mobilize the guys. The team remains capable of very good performances, as we saw in the semi-final against Toulouse, where we proved that we could stand up to the best teams.
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This fervent supporter, however, has one caveat: “On the other hand, over time, I have the impression that we lack consistency in intensity. Perhaps a little renewal or new faces could have given some momentum to maintain this dynamic throughout the season.” And to smile: “But hey, it’s easy to say in my position…”
We are certainly only on the 7th day of the Top 14 and Stade Rochelais – which has established itself in recent years as one of the flagship clubs of French rugby – is already at the forefront. The slap received at Anoeta should set things straight. “As for the supporters, I am convinced that this defeat will wake up Deflandre and I hope that the guys will feed off this atmosphere to get back on track”Axel advances. And Gwenaël agrees: “The offseason allowed our players to regain freshness. Aside from this match against Bayonne, the start of the season is correct in a championship that is increasingly tight from season to season.
