La Rochelle (AFP)
La Rochelle, who has only illusory hopes of qualifying for the European Cup, had to work to take the best with the bonus on Sale (30-23) Friday during the 5th day, thus maintaining its beautiful dynamic in Top 14.
With ten points on the clock one day to go, it would take several miracles to see the Maritimes win a ticket to the quarterfinals. But the main thing is well elsewhere for the men of Jono Gibbes abused a half time before using the English after the break.
For this third European reception, the Stade Rochelais, 4th in the Top 14, had left several executives in the stands.
Led 10-0 after a quarter of an hour, the Rochelais were able to show opportunism to reverse the trend in the space of three minutes, in the wake of the elusive Kerr-Barlow.
The scrum half All Black, elected man of the match, was at the start or conclusion of three tries. The first following a recovery ball with a judicious pass over it to Botia for a test concluded by Railevu (23), the second on a winning interception (12-10, 26).
Kerr-Barlow then rocked the match by starting close to his dominating pack to serve Doumayrou (59).
The bonus test came from the international Alldritt rewarding the work of undermining his own (74) even if Sale, reduced to 14, saved a second honor late in the game by Langdon (79).
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