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European Rugby Challenge Cup Resumé - Journée 3 - La Rochelle - Exeter Chiefs - 04/12/2014 23:02
La Rochelle were given a timely reminder of how tricky Zebre can be as the Italians plundered three tries in the final quarter at Stade Marcel Deflandre to cut a 27 point deficit to eight points in the end.
And the fact they managed to mount such a major fightback while reduced to 14 men for 10 minutes during their revival provided further proof of their ability. Now Jason Eaton’s men will have to travel to Italy to attempt to bag the double they need to stay in touch with unbeaten Pool 4 leaders Gloucester.
La Rochelle have yet to lose in seven previous matches against Italian teams in Europe, but they will have noted that Zebre have already beaten Edinburgh and Cardiff Blues at home in the Guinness PRO12 and Worcester Warriors in the Challenge Cup.
“We're certainly looking forward to a rematch after our strong finish. We left France with the positives of the last 20 minutes where the team, even when we were outnumbered numerically, showed the spirit that was also needed to start the game,” explained Zebre coach Gianluca Guidi.
“We scored three tries in 20 minutes with our front row matching their pack – a strong point of La Rochelle – and they did very well. Unfortunately we had already given away two tries to our opponents from restarts.”
La Rochelle posted their biggest win in Europe on their last trip to Italy in 2011 when they hammered Femi-CZ Rovigo 71-17 on their way into the last eight. If they can repeat that kind of effort they they might still stay in touch with the reigning champions.
Match Facts
- This will be just the second meeting between the sides with La Rochelle winning 27-19 last time out.
- Zebre will be aiming for a third straight win at home after wins against Brive last season and Worcester Warriors earlier in this campaign.
- After their win against Zebre last weekend, La Rochelle will be aiming for back-to-back wins in the Challenge Cup for the first time since January 2011.
- La Rochelle are undefeated in seven matches against Italian opponents in the Challenge Cup, though their last clash against Zebre was one of just two to be settled by a margin of fewer than 10 points.
Alors qu'ils ne sont plus concernés par la course en European Rugby Challenge Cup
Zebre picked up where they had left off in the second half in La Rochelle by piling even more points on the Top 14 side.
The Italians had been 27-0 adrift at Stade Marcel Deflandre a week earlier before they finally got their act together. Three tries flowed and the final margin of victory was reduced to eight points.
This made it a second home win for Zebre in Pool 4 and they improved on their record breaking winning margin of 19 against Worcester Warriors in round two by making it 20 points this time against the Top 14 side.
That spirited final quarter the previous weekend obviously convinced them they could notch another notable home win this season and after Edoardo Padovani had kicked them into an early 6-0 lead inside 10 minutes, they extended their lead to 18 points before the break.
Padovani could have added a third penalty, and also pushed a drop goal attempt wide, in that bright opening from the home side. He then failed to convert Italian international back row man Paul Derbyshire’s try midway through the first half.
La Rochelle lost No 8 Jone Qovu Nailiko to a yellow card after 27 minutes and that enabled home flanker Johan Meyer to bag a second try. This time Padovani hit the mark to stretch the home lead to 18 points at the break.
The La Rochelle cause wasn’t helped when they lost skipper Jason Eaton to a second yellow card after 55 minutes. Padovani missed with another penalty shot just after the hour and had he been more accurate Zebre would have been out of sight.
But while the PRO12 team missed some chances to take points, their defence kept La Rochelle at bay until the final play of the game. Before then their magnificent turn-around over the two legs by was completed when former All Black great Mils Muliaina crossed or a try five minutes from time which Carlo Canna converted.
Ex-Springbok scrum half Ricky Januarie then averted a whitewash with a try which went unconverted.
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