La Rochelle continued their recent run of poor form yesterday, falling to a 34-14 defeat away to playoff rivals Bordeaux-Bégles. Bordeuax ran in six tries during a game in which Ronan O'Gara's men who didn't seem at the races at all.
The two-time Champions Cup winners' night can be summed up by Damien Penaud's try just before the hour mark.
Mathieu Jalibert took a quick-tap penalty and drilled the ball down the field and it bounced over the try line. La Rochelle's Gregory Alldritt was jogging back to cover it, and as it crossed the try line, it looked like the no. 8 would dot it down for a goal line dropout.
However, unbeknownst to him, Penaud was charging down the field and as Alldritt was just about to touch the ball down, Penaud pipped him to it and scored Bordeaux's sixth try of the match.
Bordeaux's wings are ridiculous this yearpic.twitter.com/AZARh7HihH
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) May 12, 2024
The reverse angle makes it look worse for Alldritt. The score was reminiscent of the famous Rob Howley try for Wasps against Toulouse in the 2004 Heineken Cup Final.
Clangers like this aren't what we expect from La Rochelle and especially Alldritt who is normally a very cool headed player.
Damian Penuad has just picked Alldritt’s pocket #TOP14 pic.twitter.com/5DPisMYGSI
— Brett Igoe (@brettruganalyst) May 11, 2024
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Ronan O'Gara criticises La Rochelle players after Bordeaux loss
La Rochelle have won just once since their Champions Cup loss in Dublin last month and could now have their Top 14 playoff spot in jeopardy. They occupy the last playoff place in sixth and are just one point ahead of Pau.
Missing out on the playoffs, as well as an early exit (by their standards) from the Champions Cup, would be a disastrous season.
Ronan O'Gara clearly knows their season is in jeopardy, with the Cork man not holding back in his post-match presser conference yesterday. He was disappointed in the result and said that certain players let him down.
Were were punished by certain players who have crucial responsibilities in this team, I will not give names.
🔴 La réaction de Ronan O’Gara après UBB-La Rochelle 😬
« On est pénalisé par certains joueurs ce soir qui portent des responsabilités cruciales dans cette équipe, je ne vais pas donner leurs noms » pic.twitter.com/1dd63VQfUT
— Sud Radio Rugby (@SudRadioRugby) May 11, 2024
It's not great reading for La Rochelle and you can understand why O'Gara was so harsh on his players.
He's still to win the Top 14 in his time at La Rochelle and while he's obviously done amazing work there, a league title is still a glaring hole in his incredibly impressive CV.
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