Challenge Cup Final Preview: Clermont v La Rochelle
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.
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.
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.
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
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments