Lille (AFP)

La Rochelle will have a second chance.

Unhappy finalist of the European Cup last month, the maritime club offered itself another final, that of the Top 14, for the first time in its history, thanks to its relentless victory (19-6) over Racing 92 Friday in Lille.

He could find next week at the Stade de France his European executioner, Toulouse, who will face Bordeaux-Bègles on Saturday in the second semi-final, still in the North.

The Rochelais have definitely confirmed, if it was still needed, that they had reached a milestone this season, just seven years after coming back from Pro D2.

Falling twice in the last four - against Toulon (18-15) in 2017 and Toulouse (20-6) in 2019 -, this time they crossed the obstacle with authority by relying on what made their strength throughout the past few months.

Completely stifled, Racing failed him on the other hand at the gates of the final for the third time in four years after being beaten in 2017 and 2018 by the future champions, Clermont (37-31) and Castres (19-14).

Perhaps a good omen for La Rochelle.

In front of 5,000 spectators dotted around the stands of the usual lair of the Lille French football champions, whose removable roof had been left open, the ambitious duel between the second and third of the regular season finally followed logic.

Impressed by their fine European course, the Maritimes were not necessarily favorites at the kick-off without their international hooker Pierre Bourgarit and four major absentees at the center three-quarter position: Levani Botia, suspended after his expulsion in the final of European Cup, and Jérémy Sinzelle, Pierre Aguillon and Geoffrey Doumayrou, all injured.

- The Galac 'tick -

The staff headed by the New Zealander Jono Gibbes, who will replace Franck Azéma in Clermont next season, had to align a pair of almost experimental centers, composed of the South African Raymond Rhule and the young Jules Favre (22 years), to make against that of the Blues, Virimi Vakatama - Gaël Fickou, undoubtedly one of the best in Europe.

This first semi-final also offered an opposition of styles between the pack of XXL forwards of La Rochelle and the flamboyant rear lines of Racing;

between the best defense of the championship and a team turning at 45 points per game on average since the very commented arrival of Fickou during the season.

Directly qualified in the last four thanks to its second place, Stade Rochelais had benefited from a week to breathe while the Racingmen had to play last week in a dam against their neighbors of the French Stadium (38-21).

And this cut has obviously done him the greatest good.

After a round of observation, he gradually gained the ascendancy, until the first and only try of the match, at the half-hour mark, of winger Arthur Retière after a daring kick over and paying the international back Brice Dulin.

Superior in melee and applied defensively to leave no room for maneuver to the Ile-de-France "Galactics", powerless, the Rochelais never trembled, like their opener Ihaia West, very precise against the poles (5 out of 6) until 'when the rain arrives at the end of the game.

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The New Zealander had not been as effective last month at Twickenham in the European Cup final against Toulouse (22-17).

He and his teammates may have the opportunity to get their revenge at the Stade de France.

© 2021 AFP