Top 14: La Rochelle wins the shock of the contenders in front of an empty-handed Racing

Defensive solidity and indiscipline will have been the watchwords of this somewhat bland shock which turned in favor of the Maritimes, which fed on Ile-de-France faults - 4 out of 4 for Ihaia West - before the test for the deliverance of Thomas Berjon registered two minutes from the end.

This success, important in the race to qualify for the final stages, allows Ronan O'Gara's men to climb the podium and believe a little more in their chances, especially with the return of the internationals.

For Racing, imprecise in its game, unproductive on its scrums at 5 meters well defended by the Rochelais, with Maxime Machenaud only finding the post on his penalty attempt (38) which could have changed a lot of things at the break (6-0), it's an afternoon to forget.

Now seventh, the men of Laurent Travers will have to whip to hope to reintegrate the qualifying zone, also looking behind them Clermont (8th) and Toulon (9th) who have certainly not said their last word.

Racing 92 coach Laurent Travers, before the match of the 21st day of the Top 14, on March 26, 2022 at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre against La Rochelle XAVIER LEOTY AFP

Thanks to its iron defense and a rather conquering scrum, La Rochelle took the upper hand without being on the big day offensively, with a lot of lost balls preventing the game from developing.

The return of Grégory Alldritt brought a surplus of power and ambition in their initiatives and if the corner try of Wiaan Liebenberg was refused for a forward beforehand (56), the tendency is clearly La Rochelle to the hour of play against visitors in the hard (9-0).

The 3rd line of La Rochelle Grégory Alldritt, during the home match of the 21st day of the Top 14 against Racing 92, on March 26, 2022 at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre XAVIER LEOTY AFP

However, it was not by camping in the 22-meter sky and white that the club with the caravel made the difference but on a 100-meter raise initiated from his in-goal by Pierre Popelin, relayed by the fiery legs of Raymond Rhule and concluded by the incoming Berjon.

© 2022 AFP