Finalist of the last edition, Stade Rochelais challenges Montpellier for a place in the last four of the European Cup. Without room for error.
Ronan O’Gara, the manager of La Rochelle, warned his players. “I told them: it is in May that we see the real competitors”, he explained this week at a press conference, before challenging Montpellier in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup. A Franco-French duel – another one, after having eliminated Bordeaux-Bègles in the eighth – and a major challenge for the Maritimes, finalists of the last edition.
“Even if we face a French team, we have to be very impatient before this weekend, because it is a match that we play at home, continues the Irish technician. We will have sunshine, our fantastic supporters and a perfect pitch to welcome an opponent who has already come to win here. At the end of January, the MHR, which was then on an excellent dynamic, had indeed come to win against Marcel-Deflandre (23-29). In the aftermath, Stade Rochelais also lost to Biarritz (27-24), before regaining their colors and reviving (only two defeats in the next ten matches).
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For their part, the Montpellier residents have suffered a serious blow, since they remain on three setbacks in a row. “We go to La Rochelle without pressure, we are the outsiders”, plants the Hérault manager Philippe Saint-André. Same low profile for hooker Guilhem Guirado, aware of the shortcomings recently displayed by his team: “At the moment, we are fishing in certain areas of play, but what better than a quarter-final of the Champions Cup to revive?
Now is the time to show that we have learned the lessons of the past and of last season
Ronan O’Gara
Stade Rochelais, which will play its third quarter-final in four continental campaigns, has no room for error at home. “Last year, we came across the last hurdle (Stade Toulousain, Editor’s note). It’s now that it starts and our objective is to continue., insists the La Rochelle manager. And to insist: “It is now that we must show that we have learned the lessons of the past and of last season. We still have the opportunity this season to do something big.»
The setback conceded last week against Toulouse (23-16), the sixth in a row, and this seventh place in the Top 14 did not weigh down the Rochelais. “There is no reduction and it is far from being a halt”, pointed out Grégory Alldritt, number 8 of the XV of France. And Ronan O’Gara to draw a parallel with the Champions League in football: “We saw Real Madrid (who eliminated Manchester City) Wednesday night and we’ll see you on Saturday. It will be magnificent against great opponents. Now is when the season begins. Because Saturday is a final. If we lose, it’s over and we would lose more than a match: all the work of the season. The Maritimes will also have to deal without bulldozer Will Skelton, fullback Brice Dulin and center Jonathan Danty, who had to forfeit Friday night. Under pressure.
The team compositions:
La Rochelle: Leyds – Favre, Sinzelle, Botia, Rhule – (o) West, (m) Kerr-Barlow – Vito, Alldritt (cap.), Liebenberg – Picquette, Lavault – Atonio, Bourgarit, Priso
Replacements: Bosch, Wardi, Sclavi, Sazy, Haddad, Retière, Boudehent, Popelin
Montpellier : Tisseron – Rattez, Reilhac, Pollard, Ngandebe – (o) Foursans, (m) Paillaugue – Camara (cap.), Mercer, Ouedraogo – Chalureau, Verhaeghe – Thomas, Guirado, Forletta
Replacements: Paenga-Amosa, Rodgers, Arroyo, Galletier, Aprasidze, Darmon, Capelli, Dakuwaqa