La Rochelle Dominates Racing 92 in Decisive 33-6 Victory
Table of Contents
La Rochelle delivered a commanding performance against Racing 92 on Sunday, securing a decisive 33-6 victory fueled by standout performances from Grégory Alldritt, Dillyn Leyds, and Antoine Hastoy. The dominant win underscores La Rochelle’s strength as a contender, while highlighting struggles for Racing 92, particularly concerning penalties.
Alldritt Leads the Charge for La Rochelle
Grégory Alldritt proved a force to be reckoned with, returning to the pitch with a clear intent to make an impact after being released from the XV of France squad before their match against South Africa. The third international line showcased his versatility, demonstrating sharp ball-catching skills and a powerful presence in both attack and defense. He opened the scoring with a try in the 19th minute, capitalizing on an opportunity at the edge of a ruck. Alldritt completed twelve tackles and covered significant ground with twelve races with the ball in hand. While he conceded a penalty for an attempted scratch and a forward pass, these minor setbacks did little to diminish his overall contribution.
Hastoy Silences Doubts with Stellar Performance
Facing scrutiny in the hierarchy of French openers, Antoine Hastoy responded emphatically with a performance that reaffirmed his capabilities. His early penalty set the stage for Alldritt’s try, and his kicking game proved consistently accurate and strategically effective. Hastoy’s camp outings were particularly noteworthy, and his crossing play directly led to a try for Niniashvili. He finished the match having beaten seven defenders, a reassuring sign for his future contributions.
Leyds Brings Creativity to La Rochelle’s Attack
In a La Rochelle offense that sometimes favored kicking plays, Dillyn Leyds injected a much-needed spark of creativity. The South African consistently offered good solutions to his teammates, destabilizing the Racing 92 defense with his support play and passing. Despite a forward pass early in the match, Leyds remained a threat, particularly under the high balls from Hastoy, and was ultimately rewarded with a try that secured an offensive bonus for his team.
Skelton Continues to Impress
The 34-year-old Fijian native, and England international with 22 caps, continues to be a standout recruit for La Rochelle. He delivered a powerful performance, completing fourteen runs with the ball, including impactful carries that challenged the Racing 92 defense. His defensive work was equally impressive, achieving a clean 9/9 tackle record.
Penalties Plague Racing 92’s Bamba
While La Rochelle thrived, Racing 92 struggled with discipline. Right pillar Demba Bamba was repeatedly penalized, accumulating four whistles against him in the first half alone. He was penalized twice for defending on a carried ball, once in a scrum, and once for being offside after a kick – a match he will undoubtedly want to forget.
Scrum Half Struggles for Racing 92
Racing 92’s scrum half faced a challenging debut in the Top 14, making several technical errors that hampered his team’s progress. A series of poor passes and ill-advised kicks contributed to lost opportunities and defensive pressure. He was ultimately substituted, and struggled to find rhythm alongside his hinge partner, Ugo Seunes.
Player Ratings:
La Rochelle:
- Leyds: 7/10
- Nowell: 5.5/10
- Lagivala: 5/10
- Favre: 4.5/10
- Niniashvili: 5.5/10
- Hastoy: 7.5/10
- Berjon: 5/10
- Bullshit: 7/10
- Haddad-Victor: 5.5/10
- Andjisseramatchi: 6/10
- Skelton: 6/10
- Lavault: 5/10
- Sorin: 4.5/10
- Lespiaucq-Brettes: 5/10
- Kaddouri: 5/10
Racing 92:
- James: 3.5/10
- Naituvi: 4/10
- Ashvetia: 5/10
- Tuisova: 4/10
- Ravutaumada: 3.5/10
- Boys: 3.5/10
- Carbonneau: 3.5/10
- Hughes: 6.5/10
- Sanconnie: 4/10
- Baudonne: 4.5/10
- Rowlands: 4/10
- Hill: 4/10
- Bamba: 3/10
- Escobar: 5/10
- Kolingar: 5/10
The comprehensive victory positions La Rochelle strongly, while Racing 92 will need to address their disciplinary issues and refine their execution to regain momentum in the league.
