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European newcomers Oyonnax begin their first Amlin Challenge Cup clash against Worcester Warriors at Stade Charles Mathon on Saturday. - 08/10/2013 10:46
Worcester Warriors will be hoping to transfer their encouraging league form to the European stage as they return to Challenge Cup action against La Rochelle.
The newly-promoted Warriors are holding their own in sixth place in the Aviva Premiership having picked up 10 points from their opening four fixtures.
After the most recently victory against Newcastle Falcons, Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan hit out at the critics who have written off the Warriors chances this season.
Ryan said: “I am getting frustrated with everybody talking down about us. I think everyone has to start understanding — that is the local media and the fans — it is about looking at where this club can go rather than to keep anchoring it to where it has come from.
“It is a frustration of the players and it is having an effect.”
Warriors haven’t featured in the Challenge Cup since the 2013/14 season when they failed to get out of the pool stages after finishing fourth in their pool.
But the Midlands club have an impressive home record in Europe having won 22 of their last 28 home fixtures, including a win in their last home tie against French side Oyonnax two seasons ago.
Like Ryan’s side, the French visitors have also made a decent start in the league and are currently sitting ninth after crushing a lacklustre Oyonnax side 38-3 in their last outing.
La Rochelle’s recent Challenge Cup form will be cause for concern for the French side but this will be their first meeting with the Warriors in Europe and they will be eager to get off to a flying start.
Match Facts
- Worcester Warriors have won only one of their past six Challenge Cup fixtures (D1, L4), however that one victory came in their most recent game in the competition.
- Worcester have won just two of their last 11 fixtures against France-based teams (D1, L8), though this will be their first clash with La Rochelle.
- Worcester have won 22 of their 28 home fixtures including a win in their last home tie against French side Oyannax in the 2013/14 tournament.
- La Rochelle have won only one of their last seven matches in the Challenge Cup, with each defeat coming by 10+ points.
Venu en Angleterre avec une équipe mixte
Worcester Warriors made a happy return to the European Rugby Challenge Cup as they squeezed out a 19-3 home win over La Rochelle.
Seasoned campaigner Ryan Lamb gave the Warriors the perfect start with two penalties in the opening 10 minutes to give his side a six points cushion, but La Rochelle hit back with a kick of their own from Charles Bouldoir a minute later.
Lamb added a third penalty just before the break to leave the home side 12-3 to the good, but it took them a further 37 minutes before they could relax. La Rochelle remained in the hunt right to the death, when full back Ben Howard crossed for the only try of the game.
Up until then it had been a tense affair with Bouldoir missing a second penalty and the French visitors failing to take full advantage of a yellow card picked up by Warriors’ replacement prop Gareth Milasinovich in the 56th minute. The home side’s resolve to keep their line intact during that difficult 10 minute period shone through and they regrouped at the end.
Howard’s try was converted by Lamb and victory was complete. The Warriors now move on to play Zebre in Italy next weekend in Pool 4.
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