Glasgow Warriors grind out crucial victory over La Rochelle
Glasgow Warriors secured a 27-24 victory over La Rochelle at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre to move into second spot in pool two of the Heineken Champions Cup.
Tries from Callum Gibbins, Nikola Matawalu and Kyle Steyn – along with 12 points from the boot of Adam Hastings – was enough to secure victory for Dave Rennie’s side.
La Rochelle scored two tries of their own courtesy of Dany Priso and Zeno Kieft with Jules Plisson kicking 14 points.
Lively right-wing Vincent Rattez sparked the hosts into life with a 35-metre break after bouncing off a weak tackle from Fraser Brown.
Rattez approached the 22 before offloading to Priso, who touched down underneath the crossbar with Plisson converting.
La Rochelle began to apply pressure in the Glasgow half and they extended their lead with a further two successful penalties from Plisson.
Hastings clawed one penalty back for Glasgow after the hosts were penalised at the proceeding scrum.
La Rochelle blindside flanker Kieft claimed their second try after Glasgow slapped down a lineout just five metres from their own try line.
The ball appeared to be heading into the hands of DTH Van Der Merwe but it was fortuitously gathered by Kieft for the try.
Glasgow pulled themselves back into the game on the stroke of half-time. With Priso penalised for not rolling away the visitors turned down an almost certain three points to go for the corner.
The driving lineout was well worked allowing Gibbins to power over from short range with Hastings converting meaning Glasgow trailed 18-13 at the interval.
Plisson extended La Rochelle’s lead with a straightforward penalty before Matawalu intercepted a pass from Victor Vito to run in unopposed from 70 metres out.
"It is probably his agent looking for another 100k. Nothing to do with us.”https://t.co/018KPEkaLj
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The conversion was missed but La Rochelle proceeded to build some pressure, allowing Plisson to extend their lead to four points.
But the visitors hit straight back and had a try disallowed when second-row Scott Cummings appeared to score. However, upon referral to the television match official, the try was ruled out because there was a hand holding the ball up.
Steyn put Glasgow ahead as he ran in from 45 metres out after gathering a perfectly executed cross-kick from Hastings, who converted to put the visitors 27-24 ahead with 15 minutes remaining.
La Rochelle threw everything at Glasgow in the closing stages of the game and very nearly went back ahead when Rattez burst clear only to be denied a try by a last gasp tackle from Ali Price.
The hosts laid siege to Glasgow’s line in the closing stages of the game but the Scottish outfit managed to hold on for a crucial victory which keeps alive their European hopes.
Press Association
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments