La Rochelle (AFP)
La Rochelle, immersed in a mini-crisis of championship and European Cup results, took the time to treat Castres (22-13) on Saturday during the 10th day and climb to 5th place in Top 14.
After three defeats of rank, the Rochelais had a lot to be forgiven. They have reached the end of a long time indecisive game that has tipped around the hour of play on two penalties of the defector Stade Jules Plisson, impeccable for his first at Deflandre under the colors yellow and black.
Result, La Rochelle (22 points) is ranked 5th in a very tight ranking, just behind Toulon and Clermont (24 pts) but ahead of Pau (21 pts).
The CO of Mauricio Reggiardo, still empty-handed this season outside, has long thought to pick his first points, especially after Rory Kockott's trickster test breaking two tackles (16th) and this distant penalty succeeded by the half-scrum visitor which brought the mark to 13-3.
In vain. The end of the first act was fatal to the Tarnese who suffered close to the line and cashed a test of the 2nd line Mathieu Tanguy at the conclusion of a nice movement launched in the axis by Kevin Gourdon.
The return to the score (10-13) was confirmed at the return of the locker room thanks to the boot of Brock James and even if Julien Dumora put Castres in front five minutes later, the pace imposed by the partners of Romain Sazy has tipped the balance of the Rochelais side.
Under pressure, the Castrais have cracked in terms of discipline for the greatest joy of Plisson.
© 2019 AFP