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Glasgow Warriors' Adam Hastings
Glasgow Warriors will be hoping to recreate their 2019/20 success as they travel to last season’s finalists Stade Rochelais in the Heineken Champions Cup on Sunday.
The two sides met twice in the 2019/20 pool stage – and Glasgow emerged triumphant on both occasions. The Scottish region have a positive recent record at French teams – they have won three of their last four away matches against TOP 14 opposition.
The Pool A match kicks off at 15:15 (UK & Irish time), and is available to watch on FR Sports, beIN Sports, BT Sport, and Sky Italia.
Other key facts:
- La Rochelle have reached the knock-out stages of European competition in four of their last five campaigns in either the Challenge Cup or the European Cup – only failing to do so in 2019/20’s Heineken Champions Cup.
- Dillyn Leyds made nine clean breaks in the Heineken Champions Cup last season – second only to Kurtley Beale’s 11 in the competition. Leyds made four line breaks as well as a competition-high five breaks from support carries.
- La Rochelle’s Levani Botia conceded more penalties (8) than any other player in the Heineken Champions Cup last season – in fact as a team, they conceded 54 –the third-most penalties of any side, behind Bordeaux (77) and Clermont (56).
Already planning who will be in your Heineken Champions Cup squad?
Would you go with @MarcuSmith10 or @RomainNtamack at 10?
Time to put it to the test with our @Superbru Fantasy Game 💪
Build your team now 👉 https://t.co/CKxojwivKM pic.twitter.com/XMZKpNLzIR
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) December 8, 2021
Key quotes:
Ronan O’Gara (Stade Rochelais head coach): “They’ll come here with no pressure on them and nothing to lose. They will attack. That’s normal, we’re in the [Heineken] Champions Cup. We’re at the deep end. We want to show that it’s really important for us.”
Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors hooker): “La Rochelle are an excellent team.They’re very strong up front and they’ve got some backs that can cut you to pieces. So, I think [you need to] be able to absorb that pressure, take your opportunities – that’s not just in attack. If you get an opportunity to get a turnover, you’ve got to be able to take it.”
La Rochelle prop Reda Wardi scores the TOP 14 side's first try
Last season’s Heineken Champions Cup finalists Stade Rochelais fought to a 20-13 win over Glasgow Warriors at Stade Marcel Deflandre in their opening game of the 2021/22 campaign on Sunday.
The TOP 14 side were ran close by Glasgow, particularly in the first half, but got into their stride towards the end of the game to record a victory in Pool A.
Glasgow disrupted La Rochelle’s game plan in the first half and found themselves leading through two Ross Thompson penalties.
The Scottish region’s fly-half then had the chance to extend their lead to nine points on 27 minutes but was off target with his kick on that occasion.
And moments later La Rochelle had their first points on the board as hooker Reda Wardi crossed following a well-formed driving maul.
Ihaia West’s conversion put the hosts ahead and the fly-half then kicked a penalty in the last minutes of the half to extend their lead.
Scintillating rugby! ⚡️
Eneriko Buliruarua finishes off a wonderful team move from @StadeRochelais 🤩#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/R8FjcrrpWs
— Rugby on BT Sport (@btsportrugby) December 12, 2021
Glasgow continued to battle after the break and were rewarded for their efforts as Kyle Steyn gathered a cross-field kick and did well to touch down under heavy pressure on 50 minutes, Thompson on hand to convert.
La Rochelle immediately went on the offensive after going behind once again and unleashed a barrage carries on the Glasgow line.
An infringement by Warriors flanker Rory Darge saw him sent to the sin bin and the away side’s resistance eventually gave way on 57 minutes as Eneriko Buliruarua went over in the corner.
West converted and nudged La Rochelle seven points in front with a penalty four minutes later, leaving Glasgow a converted try adrift.
But there would be no comeback for the United Rugby Championship side as La Rochelle found their rhythm and dominated the breakdown over the closing stages, as well as producing some of their best attacking moves of the game.
La Rochelle visit Bath Rugby in Round 2 on Saturday while Glasgow host 2020 Heineken Champions Cup winners Exeter Chiefs.
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