1
Gloucester saw their Heineken Champions Cup hopes ended at Kingsholm as La Rochelle produced a slick and polished performance to win 27-16 at Kingsholm The French side, second in their domestic league behind Toulouse, booked a home quarter-final against Scarlets or Sale Sharks next weekend.
ADVERTISEMENT
Although Gallagher Premiership strugglers Gloucester delivered some impressive moments, they were ultimately overpowered by an efficient La Rochelle machine. Full-back Dillyn Leyds and wing Arthur Retiere scored tries for the visitors, with fly-half Ihaia West kicking eleven points and replacement Jules Plisson booting two penalties, including one from 50 metres.
England head coach Eddie Jones looked on as No8 Ruan Ackermann touched down for Gloucester, while fly-half George Barton booted a conversion and three penalties, but La Rochelle never looked like relinquishing control.
Gloucester suffered a major blow ahead of kick-off when their Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit was ruled out due to a tight hamstring. He was replaced in the starting line-up by Charlie Sharples, while Scotland centre Chris Harris returned from Six Nations duty.
La Rochelle, European Cup quarter-finalists in 2018, included France No8 Gregory Alldritt and prop Uini Atonio among their substitutes. Barton kicked Gloucester into a third-minute lead, but La Rochelle were soon into their stride and a powerful break by flanker Kevin Gourdon set up a try for Leyds.
ICYMI: Ahead of Friday's game at Gloucester, @SkeltonWilliam spoke w/ @heagneyl ??? on:
Leaving @Saracens
Life at @staderochelais
Size 19 boots ?
Tackle height & 'big boys having no excuse'
His battle with diet ???
Best & worse Sarries COD players ? https://t.co/Bjdo9coewW— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 1, 2021
Although a second Barton penalty put Gloucester back in front, the visitors dominated early territory and possession through a juggernaut pack spearheaded by Gourdon and lock Will Skelton, their signing last summer from Saracens. A second try for the visitors after 22 minutes was deserved reward for their impressive control and technical excellence, with Retiere squeezing over in the corner.
It looked as though Retiere might have been nudged into touch, but referee Andrew Brace awarded the try after consulting with his television match official and West’s conversion made it 15-6. There were plenty of warning signs for Gloucester, yet they hit back eight minutes before half-time following a La Rochelle defensive blunder.
ADVERTISEMENT
A misdirected pass deep inside the French team’s 22 put them under pressure, and Gloucester’s forwards created an opportunity for Ackermann to crash over. Barton’s conversion brought Gloucester back to four points adrift, and then they had a reprieve when La Rochelle centre Levani Botia saw a try disallowed following an offside at the breakdown.
But Gloucester remained firmly in contention despite suffering an injury setback just before half-time when flanker Jordy Reid was forced off and replaced by Freddie Clarke. La Rochelle moved five points clear through a West penalty after 48 minutes, with Gloucester skipper Lewis Ludlow yellow-carded for killing possession.
Ludlow could have no complaints, and West soon completed his penalty hat-trick before Alldritt arrived as a 60th-minute substitute, replacing Wiaan Liebenberg. Barton escaped sanction following a questionable tackle on Leyds, who was forced off for a head injury assessment, and then kicked a penalty that cut the gap to five points.
But Plisson gave La Rochelle some breathing space when he landed a 50-metre penalty, and there was no way back for Gloucester after that. Plisson sealed the deal with another penalty as the clock ticked down, and head coach Ronan O’Gara and his players could begin looking forward to a home tie in the last eight.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Even in the 82nd minute when France couldn't even win I was still nervous"
– Louis Rees-Zammit wowed this week's @TheRugbyPod with stories about title-winning Wales, celebratory Prosecco, an Instagram surge, Jonny May and Paul Scholes #SixNationshttps://t.co/4YPGwSgf0c
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 31, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments