They both suffered in different ways, but Clermont and La Rochelle held on to give the Top 14 a European Challenge final between two of its representatives on May 10 in Newcastle. This will be the first French-French final of the "small" European Cup since 2012, when Biarritz narrowly defeated Toulon (21-18) at Twickenham Stoop. But it was hard!
Work the management of the end of matches. As much La Rochelle has never managed to shelter from a return Sale (24-20), as Clermont thought he had done the hardest against the Harlequins (32-8 early in the second period) and has saw his advance melt in the last half hour. If she wants to go to the end in Challenge as in Top 14, the ASM will have to work hard on its management of the end of matches: a week after losing to Toulouse (47-44) after leading 11 points to as much minutes of the term, she escaped the worst to finally win 32-27.
La Rochelle also will have to floor on its finishes. And especially three of his players: Ihaia West, Thomas Jolmes and Jules Favre. The first missed a penalty within range of two minutes from the mermaid, the second committed a forward on the next dismissal and the third received a yellow card for a kick on an opposing player, offering the Sharks a last ammunition, which is more in numerical superiority.
First major final for Stade Rochelais. Had Nigel Owens decided to bring down the Rochelais? The Welsh referee ordered a scrum 5 meters long after the siren, before releasing the Rochelais at the end of a chopped game, far from the last two festivals at Marcel-Deflandre against Bristol (39-15) in the quarter and Pau (71-21) in the Top 14. Stade Rochelais will play its first major final, against Clermont, the expert of the lost finals. Except ... in Challenge, the only competition where the Auvergnats were more successful on the last step (2, in 1999 and 2007) than chess (1, in 2004).