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La Rochelle's dream start to the season continued in the European Rugby Challenge Cup
La Rochelle’s dream start to the season continued in the European Rugby Challenge Cup, but they meet familiar foes in round two.
The high-flying French side thrashed Benetton Treviso 41-10 in Italy to send an early statement to their Pool 1 rivals. Things could not get much better for La Rochelle, who have only been beaten twice in 10 matches and sit second in the TOP14.
But their round two rivals Bayonne have suffered contrasting fortunes ahead of their trip to the Stade Marcel-Deflandre. A run of seven matches without a win since the opening day of the season means they are bottom of the French championship. And their poor form continued in the opening round of Challenge Cup fixtures as they were beaten 47-27 at home against 2015 champions Gloucester Rugby.
The two sides have already met this season, when La Rochelle battled to a 34-17 triumph at home.
Bayonne will have to be wary of La Rochelle’s France prop Uinu Antonio, who scored a brace of tries in a dominant performance against Treviso. The New Zealand-born tighthead is included in the 29-strong group of players available for selection this weekend. Former All Blacks star Victor Vito is also included, but influential outside-half Brock James misses out.
And coach Patrice Collazo reckons his side are ready to hit the heights in Europe, he said: “We want to give ourselves the means to get through the pool stage of this competition and to access quarter-finals. We believe that the group is ready for it. If we can get results, it will allow us to play at least one knockout match, an additional step in building the group.”
Match facts
- The TOP 14 rivals have met twice previously in this competition with both sides claiming a win apiece in the 2014/15 pool stage.
- La Rochelle have alternated between a win and a loss across their last four home Challenge Cup matches against French opposition. In fact, they defeated Bayonne (Round 2 – 2014/15) on the last occasion.
- Bayonne have lost four on the bounce on the road in the Challenge Cup, conceding 40+ in their last two matches away from home.
- La Rochelle have won their last two Challenge Cup games but have not won three in a row since 2010/11.
La Rochelle followed up their five try win in Italy against Benetton Treviso with an even bigger haul against Bayonne to move to the top of Pool 1 with a perfect 10 points from two games. - 20/10/2016 22:15
La Rochelle followed up their five try win in Italy against Benetton Treviso with an even bigger haul against Bayonne to move to the top of Pool 1 with a perfect 10 points from two games.
Going so well in the TOP 14 this season, the home side got off to a flying start with a try in the second minute from Romain Sazy. It just got better and better in a first half that saw La Rochelle race into a 36-10 interval lead.
There were four more tries to savour in a blistering first half performance that saw the home side bag the bonus point with their fourth try in the 33rd minute. Full back Charles Bouldoire picked up two of them and skipper Jason Eaton chipped in with another.
Wing Steve Barry then added the fifth on the stroke of half time to leave his side in total control. Brock James added three conversions and also kicked a penalty.
Bayonne battled to cross the home line midway through the first half when wing Martin Laveau was sent racing in for a score that Lucas Meret improved. Meret also kicked a penalty and then converted a try two minutes after the break from lock Pablo Huete that cut the gap to 19 points.
Two tries in the space of three minutes then put La Rochelle firmly back in charge on the scoreboard as replacement outside half Arthur Retiere and wing Botia Veivuke crossed for unconverted scores. Leo Cedaro then added the eighth try to bring up the half-century.
Zach Holmes picked up a yellow card with five minutes left to play and that enabled Bayonne to have the final word with a penalty try that Guillaume Rouet converted. Now La Rochelle face back to back games with Gloucester in December to determine whether or not they have got what it takes to progress.
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