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La Rochelle wing Vincent Rattez
La Rochelle and Sale Sharks meet on Friday night with the chance to move into second spot in Heineken Champions Cup Pool 2, with all the action live from the Stade Marcel Deflandre at 19:45 GMT on BT Sport and beIN SPORTS.
This is also a rematch of last season’s Challenge Cup semi-final, with the hosts narrowly coming out on top before falling to ASM Clermont Auvergne in the final.
Key facts
- La Rochelle and Sale have met twice in European competition and have shared a win apiece.
- La Rochelle defeated Glasgow in Round 4, ending a run of four straight defeats in the competition. They had won four of their last six previous to that.
- Sale have won just twice away to TOP 14 opposition in the Heineken Champions Cup, with the last victory coming at Clermont in October 2008.
- La Rochelle are the only side with a 100% scrum success rate this season, winning each of their 31 scrums on their own put-in.
- La Rochelle’s Vincent Rattez has beaten 23 defenders, more than any other player.
🤜 @Rohanjvr12 set @SaleSharksRugby on their way to victory against @staderochelais in Round 2 🤛
Can they do the double over the French side in #HeinekenChampionsCup Round 5? 🦈 pic.twitter.com/4Yrc1kTQK7
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) January 7, 2020
Tawera Kerr-Barlow scores a try
La Rochelle scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow put in a terrific performance as the French side defeated Sale Sharks 30-23 on Friday night at Stade Marcel Deflandre.
The English side got off to a great start after a clever kick from Sam James allowed the visitors to set up a driving maul and three phases later, Jean-Luc Du Preez went over at the posts.
The try was converted by AJ MacGinty who added a three-pointer on 18 minutes, putting the English side 10-0 ahead.
La Rochelle would hit back minutes later as Sale lost possession, allowing the hosts to counter-attack and it was Geoffrey Doumayrou who played a lovely quick pass to Tevita Railevu who dived over the line for a try on his Heineken Champions Cup debut.
One hand magic! 💫
Brilliantly taken by Kerr-Barlow! 👏👏#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/tDgLBd783v
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) January 10, 2020
The French side then went ahead after Will Cliff had possession for Sale but his pass was intercepted with brilliant control by Tawera Kerr-Barlow, who sprinted away for the try.
The two sides then traded penalties before James Williams slotted over with the clock in the red to put Sale 16-15 up at the interval.
La Rochelle were much the better side in the second half and grabbed two tries on 58 and 73 minutes to see off a dogged Sale team.
The first came from Doumayrou after a lovely sniping run from Heineken Man of the Match Kerr-Barlow and he found his teammate for a simple try.
One hand pickups, neat kicks and dummy runs like this… 🤩
Tawera Kerr-Barlow is having some evening!#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/QNIM2HsSjo
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) January 10, 2020
The bonus point score came after Sale were reduced to 13 men following a red card for Valery Morozov and a yellow card for replacement Chris Ashton. It was Brock James who floated a pass wide allowing Gregory Alldritt to saunter over the try line as they exploited holes in the Sale line.
The visitors would grab a consolation try through Curtis Langdon but couldn’t force another opportunity as La Rochelle clung on to take all five points.
The hosts will travel to Exeter Chiefs in Round 6 while Sale Sharks will host Glasgow Warriors.
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