A sparkling man of the match and a reassuring scorer but also a world champion with absent subscribers and a scrum in agony… Find the Tops and Flops of the Franco-French Champions Cup quarter-final between Stade Rochelais and MHR ( 31-19).
TOPS
Victor Vito, Benjamin Button of Stade Rochelais
An XXL performance for Victor Vito. Despite his thirty-five years, the former All Black was in all the good moves of the Maritimes against Montpellier. Decisive passer on the first La Rochelle try scored by Dany Priso (13th), he was then at the conclusion of a large-scale collective action for his team’s second try (22nd). Returning from the locker room, Victor Vito managed to create the gap for Levani Botia’s third try (47th), thanks to a light pass between the legs. The one who should retire at the end of the season has also been precise and valuable in the ruck areas and in touch with two balls recovered and multiple assured throws. Appreciated by Marcel-Deflandre throughout the match, he was one of the strong men of Stade Rochelais’ qualification in the last four of the Champions Cup. Logically elected man of the match.
Ihaia West did not shake
Long mocked by some La Rochelle supporters for his lack of accuracy against the poles, Ihaia West was impeccable in this sector of play against the Héraultais. Author of a 6/7 and 16 points, the scorer from the Maritimes was able to build on the highlights of his team, including three penalties scored in the last 20 minutes. Efficient in his game at the foot of occupation but also on the first transmissions, Ihaia West showed that he was indeed the boss in this position with the Maritimes.
Read alsoChampions Cup: the video summary of La Rochelle’s victory over Montpellier
Stade Rochelais, an emerging force in European rugby
A year after their final loss against Stade Toulousain (17-22) at Twickenham, Ronan O’Gara’s men confirm that they are indeed part of the strongholds of rugby in the Old Continent. Authoritarian during their double confrontation against Union Bordeaux-Bègles (13-31, 31-23), the Rochelais crushed the Montpellier residents to climb back into the last four. With the return from injury of certain executives like Brice Dulin, Jonathan Danty and Will Skelton, the Maritimes can begin to dream of an enchanted end to the season. On the menu for their semi-final, they will face either Racing 92 (in Lens) or Sale Sharks (at home), who will meet in the quarter-finals this Sunday. Before a potential final against Stade Toulousain or the Irish of Leinster.
FLOPS
Handré Pollard to absent subscribers
Leaving for Leicester at the end of the season, the Springbok world champion failed to heal his Champions Cup exit with his partners. Replaced in the center, the usual opener was hardly shown to his advantage during this quarter-final. Imprecise in his game at the foot of occupation and lacking ideas on the offensive sequences, Handré Pollard never managed to put his partners in the advance. In line with his last matches in the Hérault jersey…
The MHR did not go the distance
Caught cold by the thunderous start of the match by their opponents, Philippe Saint-André’s men were quickly trailing 17-0 (23rd). Reducing the gap thanks to the strength test of Henry Thomas at the conclusion of a carried ball (28th), the Montpellier residents then returned to only three lengths from Rochelais after the tests of Yvan Reilhac (41st) then Zach Mercer (53rd), well helped by the blunders of the maritime defense after a procrastination between Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Pierre Bourgarit at the fallout of a candle and the apathy of the forwards on a badly negotiated turnover. But after the last 20 one-sided minutes where he was cornered in his own camp by accumulating faults, the MHR was penalized with three penalties and saw their European dreams come to an end on Marcel-Deflandre’s lawn.
The Hérault melee in agony
Tortured by his opponents, the Montpellier front eight experienced real ordeal against La Rochelle on Saturday afternoon. Crushed by the first line Priso-Bourgarit-Atonio, Forletta, Guirado and Thomas were penalized three times in closed scrum by Karl Dickson. The trend was hardly reversed during the replacements. Bosch, Wardi and Sclavi having shown themselves up to the holders on the La Rochelle side thanks to their multiple percussions at the end of the match.
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