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With the Champions Cup final on the menu this weekend, it’s easy to forget that there’s actually a second clash taking place at Newcastle: the Challenge Cup final.
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While the Saracens v Leinster match-up is no doubt the main course, the French will be serving up a mouth-watering entrée on Friday evening in the form of Clermont v La Rochelle.
Both sides are stacked with talent from around the globe, and even if you aren’t a fan of French rugby, the opportunity to see some of your nation’s old representatives should be enticing.
All rugby fans should be familiar with French powerhouse Clermont.
Since 2010, Clermont have won the French domestic league twice – most recently in 2017. They were also runners up in the Champions Cup in 2013, 2015 and 2017. Their squad has 28 internationals on the books, including speedster Damian Penaud and one of the world’s best midfielders, Wesley Fofana – not to mention the likes of Greig Laidlaw, Tim Nanai-Williams and George Moala.
La Rochelle will head into the match as underdogs. They’ve only been playing in France’s top division for five seasons and are currently on track to make only their second appearance in the Top 14 finals series. There’s certainly a stronger French flavour to the Rochellian team with the only notable foreign players marching out for the final being the halves combination of Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Ihaia West.
Form
It’s no surprise that Clermont have been one of the form teams of the Top 14 competition to date and are currently sitting in second place behind Champions Cup semi-finalists Toulouse.
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The 2019 year has proved extremely successful for Clermont. They have lost only three matches since Christmas, with the biggest margin being eight points. They have won nine games and drawn two in that same timeframe and clocked up over 40 points in eight of their matches. At the moment, Clermont are sitting on a three-match winning streak – a streak that started back when they beat the Harlequins in the Challenge Cup semi-finals to earn their spot in Friday’s showcase event.
La Rochelle, who are fourth in the Top 14, have had a more challenging time in 2019. Results have been mixed, with their relative success in Europe being counterbalanced by a poor run of form in the domestic French competition.
In February and March, La Rochelle managed only one win in the Top 14 and at one point it looked like they might not qualify for the finals series. They’ve managed to turn things around in the last few weeks, however, banking points against some of the competition strugglers as well as against rivals Castres. Still, their performances have not been anywhere near as comprehensive as Clermont’s.
Players to Watch
When Isaia Toeava left New Zealand’s shores in 2012, he was only barely coming into the peak of his career. French rugby doesn’t always suit Southern Hemisphere backs, but Toeava is the perfect combination of size, speed and skill and has asserted himself as one of the best fullbacks in the Top 14. His combination with Damian Penaud has played a large role in Clermont’s try-scoring feats this season.
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La Rochelle fullback Vincent Rattez has one of the best sidesteps in world rugby and has plenty of pace to boot. In the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, it was Rattez who absolutely tore the Bristol Bears to shreds and La Rochelle will be wanting to get quick, front-foot ball to Rattez as often as possible.
Ihaia West, La Rochelle’s flyhalf, will also play a key role in getting the ball out to the outside backs. West is the top point-scorer in this season’s Top 14 with 35 penalty goals to his name, and will combine with ex-All Black Tawera Kerr-Barlow. Alexis Bales has typically been preferred at halfback for La Rochelle this year, with the adept goal-kicker starting both Challenge Cup knockout matches. Kerr-Barlow’s selection indicates that coaches Xavier Garbajosa and Grégory Patat may be concerned about the damage that Clermont can do around the rucks.
Look for giant Fijian back rower Peceli Yato to enter the fray later in the game off the bench and make a big impact for Clermont. Yato scored three tries last week against Perpignan and looks to be spotting a few extra kilos than the 112kg that Clermont list him at – all of which are put to good use when he picks up a little bit of speed and crashes into the defensive line. If Clermont coach Franck Azéma finds his team lacking some go-forward, expect to see Yato injected to make a difference.
Challenge Cup Results
Clermont were the only team to go undefeated during the pool stages of the competition. La Rochelle suffered only one defeat, at home to Bristol.
Clermont
W 32 – 27 v Harlequins (SF)
W 61 – 38 v Northampton Saints (QF)
W 7 – 49 v Dragons
W 48 – 40 v Northampton Saints
W 49 – 24 v Dragons
W 14 – 47 v Timisoara Saracens
W 70 – 12 v Timisoara Saracens
W 20 – 41 v Northampton Saints
La Rochelle
W 24 – 20 v Sale Sharks (SF)
W 39 – 15 v Bristol Bears (QF)
W 10 – 22 v Zebre
W 32 – 12 v Zebre
L 3 – 13 v Bristol Bears
W 22 – 35 v Bristol Bears
W 64 – 24 v Enisei-STM
W 21 – 82 v Enisei-STM
Head-to-Head Results
In the past two seasons the two French teams have stuck to tradition and won their home matches and lost their away games. Clermont, who have been a regular fixture in the top flight of French rugby, had the wood over their western neighbours in the first few seasons after La Rochelle were promoted back up to the Top 14, but all in all it’s been a fairly even competition between the two sides.
2018-19 Round 14: Clermont 44 – 19 La Rochelle
2018-19 Round 7: La Rochelle 16 – 12 Clermont
2017-18 Round 19: Clermont 21 – 17 La Rochelle
2017-18 Round 3: La Rochelle 51 – 20 Clermont
2016-17 Round 26: Clermont 30 – 26 La Rochelle
2016-17 Round 1: La Rochelle 30 – 30 Clermont
2015-16 Round 26: Clermont 57 – 8 La Rochelle
2015-16 Round 1: La Rochelle 6 – 44 Clermont
2014-15 Round 17: La Rochelle 16 – 12 Clermont
2014-15 Round 9: Clermont 30 – 10 La Rochelle
Teams
Clermont: Isaia Toeava, Damian Penaud, George Moala, Wesley Fofana, Alivereti Raka, Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra (c), Fritz Lee, Alexandre Lapandry, Arthur Iturria, Sébastien Vahaamahina, Sitaleki Timani, Rabah Slimani, Benjamin Kayser, Etienne Falgoux. Reserves: John Ulugia, Beka Kakabadze, Davit Zirakashvili, Paul Jedrasiak, Peceli Yato, Greig Laidlaw, Tim Nanai-Williams, Apisai Naqalevu.
La Rochelle: Vincent Rattez, Arthur Retiere, Geoffrey Doumayrou, Pierre Aguillon, Marc Andreu, Ihaia West, Tawera Kerr Barlow, Grégory Alldritt, Kevin Gourdon, Wiaan Liebenberg, Mathieu Tanguy, Romain Sazy (c), Uini Atonio, Jean-Charles Orioli, Dany Priso. Reserves: Pierre Bourgarit, Vincent Pelo, Arthur Joly, Thomas Jolmes, Zeno Kieft, Alexi Bales, Jérémy Sinzelle, Levani Botia.
Comments on RugbyPass
Exeter were thumped by 38 points. And they only had to hop on a train.
29 Go to commentsI am De Groot.
1 Go to commentsHad hoped you might write an article on this game, Nick. It’s a good one. Things have not gone as smoothly for ROG since beating Leinster last year at the Aviva in the CC final. LAR had the Top 14 Final won till Raymond Rhule missed a simple tackle on the excellent Ntamack, and Toulouse reaped the rewards of just staying in the fight till the death. Then the disruption of the RWC this season. LAR have not handled that well, but they were not alone, and we saw Pau heading the Top 14 table at one stage early season. I would think one of the reasons for the poor showing would have to be that the younger players coming through, and the more mature amongst the group outside the top 25/30, are not as strong as would be hoped for. I note that Romain Sazy retired at the end of last season. He had been with LAR since 2010, and was thus one of their foundation players when they were promoted to Top 14. Records show he ended up with 336 games played with LAR. That is some experience, some rock in the team. He has been replaced for the most part by Ultan Dillane. At 30, Dillane is not young, but given the chances, he may be a fair enough replacement for Sazy. But that won’be for more than a few years. I honestly know little of the pathways into the LAR setup from within France. I did read somewhere a couple of years ago that on the way up to Top 14, the club very successfully picked up players from the academies of other French teams who were not offered places by those teams. These guys were often great signings…can’t find the article right now, so can’t name any….but the Tadgh Beirne type players. So all in all, it will be interesting to see where the replacements for all the older players come from. Only Lleyd’s and Rhule from SA currently, both backs. So maybe a few SA forwards ?? By contrast, Leinster have a pretty clear line of good players coming through in the majority of positions. Props maybe a weak spot ? And they are very fleet footed and shrewd in appointing very good coaches. Or maybe it is also true that very good coaches do very well in the Leinster setup. So, Nick, I would fully concurr that “On the evidence of Saturday’s semi-final between the two clubs, the rebuild in the Bay of Biscay is going to take longer than it is on the east coast of Ireland”
11 Go to commentsWhat was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
29 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
86 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
86 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
29 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
11 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
11 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
11 Go to comments