Paris (AFP)

Stade Rochelais is doing better, much better and will seek to continue its recovery on Friday (8:45 pm) against Sale in the European Cup, even without hope of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

In November, the team of New Zealander Jono Gibbes and Irishman Ronan O'Gara had sunk for his entry into the competition, unable to materialize against Exeter (defeat 31-12 at home) and self-destructing downright Dirty (25-15).

But in December, according to the players' own admission, a click occurred in Glasgow, where the Rochelais won a prestigious victory (12-7) after a second crippling second setback at home (27-24).

They have not shown the same face since: a short defeat (20-15) in Bordeaux against UBB, dashing leader of the Top 14, then two offensive demonstrations against Agen (40-8) and Pau (44-13 ) which allow him to point to a beautiful 4th place in the championship.

Out of the question therefore, on the pretext that the qualification is out of reach, to spoil this renewal, which is more to Marcel-Deflandre, fortress usually impregnable but which still expects a success in this test. Especially since the Sharks, also eliminated, had not impressed on the way ...

In the other meeting of the evening, Bath and the Harlequins, two other English clubs already out of the race, will compete for honor at the Recreation Ground.

Saturday, Toulouse and Clermont will try to join Leinster, first qualified for the quarters, via a success against Connacht and Ulster. Sunday, Racing will have an identical objective against another Irish province, Munster.

Like La Rochelle, Montpellier, traveling on Saturday to Gloucester, and Lyon, which will challenge Leinster in Dublin on Sunday, have nothing more to hope for.

5th day program:

Friday:

Hen 2

(8:45 p.m.) La Rochelle (FRA) - Sale (ENG)

Hen 3

(8:45 p.m.) Bath (ENG) - Harlequins (ENG)

Saturday January 11:

Hen 2

(4:15 p.m.) Glasgow (SCO) - Exeter (ENG)

Hen 3

(2:00 p.m.) Clermont (FRA) - Ulster (IRL)

Hen 4

(2:00 p.m.) Ospreys (WAL) - Saracens (ENG)

Hen 5

(4:15 p.m.) Connacht (IRL) - Toulouse (FRA)

(6.30 p.m.) Gloucester (ENG) - Montpellier (FRA)

Sunday January 12:

Hen 1

(2:00 p.m.) Northampton (ENG) - Treviso (ITA)

Leinster (IRL) - Lyon (FRA)

Hen 4

(4:15 p.m.) Racing 92 (FRA) - Munster (IRL)

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