Stormers v La Rochelle: Five takeaways as Champions Cup holders get out of jail after Springbok’s late miss
Salmaan Moerat and Manie Libbok in action for Stormers.
Following La Rochelle’s 22-21 win over the Stormers in the Investec Champions Cup last-16 clash, here are five takeaways from the game at Cape Town Stadium.
Top line
Back-to-back champions La Rochelle looked on course to surrender their Champions Cup title on Saturday as they stared down a 13-0 deficit against the Stormers after 29 minutes of the tie.
However, like all of the best championship sides, the French outfit refused to be beaten and mounted a comeback in the second half thanks to tries from young loosehead Louis Penverne, captain Gregory Alldritt and front-rower Joel Sclavi.
The absurd format of this season’s Champions Cup meant that the first set of play-off matches produced a host of rematches from the pool stages, and while many bemoaned the format, it meant we were treated to another helter-skelter encounter with twists and turns throughout.
John Dobson’s side looked to be cruising to a famous win over the champions as they led 16-0 after 45 minutes, but the abrasive nature of the fixture saw several Stormers stars depart the pitch injured.
Still, La Rochelle had to dig deep to get back into the game, and in the end it all came down to just one kick of the ball, and while Manie Libbok was the hero in December last year, sending the ball sailing through the uprights, this time he hooked it horribly in the swirling wind as the excitement of the Cape Town faithful turned to despair.
It was a marvellous game of rugby filled with ecstasy, heartache, brutality and beauty.
Springbok Manie Libbok hooks late match-winner as La Rochelle down injury-ravaged Stormers
Bench impact
Rugby is very much a 23-man game nowadays, and today’s fixture is a fantastic case in point as the Stormers replacements stepped up to the mark to fill in for the injuries, but conversely, it was the La Rochelle bench that proved so pivotal.
The Stormers’ injury concerns are highlighted by the fact that they named a 6-2 split and still finished the game with Joseph Dweba returning to the action and his replacement, Andre Hugo Venter, having to play flank.
While the hosts’ bench certainly made their mark on the fixture and played a vital role in that late score, the visitors were able to get much more purchase from the seven replacements they used as they were able to make tactical changes.
Brok Harris and Neethling Fouche held their own in the scrums for much of the first half, but when the fresh legs of Sclavi and Alexandre Kaddouri entered the fray, La Rochelle’s pack claimed the upper hand in the set-piece.
Back-rower Yoan Tanga also made key interventions, including a penalty win inside his own 22, while Thomas Lavault ran the lineout brilliantly. In a game of tight margins, the ability to get the most out of their entire 23 was going to be crucial, and in this case, La Rochelle had the advantage of using their bench tactically.
Stormers injuries a concern
Had the Stormers progressed to the last-eight they would have been hard pressed putting out a forward pack against their quarter-final opponent, such is the injury nightmare they endured on Saturday.
The hosts lost both Ben-Jason Dixon and Deon Fourie in the opening stanza and later Hacjivah Dayimani, who was stretchered off in a worrying sight for Stormers fans. There was also a concerning moment when Salmaan Moerat was seemingly knocked out in a tackle attempt and was sent for an HIA.
It wasn’t just the forwards who had their injury struggles though as wing Leolin Zas did not reappear for the second period as the Stormers are left counting their wounded after this defeat.
The challenge now, after recovering mentally from such a painful loss, is putting bodies back together during their week’s break ahead of the United Rugby Championship run-in.
La Rochelle power
The Frenchmen struggled in the opening period but there were signs that, if they cut out the mistakes, the visitors could overpower their opponents, and so it proved in the second half. They finally managed to get a grip on proceedings after the break, with the likes of Will Skelton and Alldritt particularly to the fore.
Both of those two were magnificent as they overturned a 16-0 deficit to score 22 unanswered and keep their Champions Cup hopes alive. The sheer weight of Skelton and Alldritt in close quarters, allied by Uini Atonio, Levani Botia and replacements Paul Boudehent and Sclavi, changed the game.
As a result, they consistently made it over the gain line and sent the Stormers into reverse, in both the set-piece and the loose. When they get it right up front, La Rochelle are such a difficult team to stop, for any club side in the world.
Lucky La Rochelle and heartbreak for Stormers
Like the previous game between these sides, it came down to a Libbok conversion, but this time, the Springboks fly-half was awry with the kick, handing La Rochelle the victory. Sometimes, that is the sort of luck a team needs if they are to be champions.
Make no mistake, Ronan O’Gara’s men got away with one as they were incredibly ordinary for much of the match. The Stormers were by far the better side in the opening period and threatened to break free, with the likes of Libbok and Damian Willemse creating several opportunities.
The South Africans deserved the 16-0 advantage they had after 45 minutes, but it could have been even more. Their own profligacy, combined with La Rochelle’s sheer bloody-mindedness not to give up their title, meant that the visitors still had a chance in the final half-hour.
And like champions do, the French outfit sensed their opportunity, lifted the intensity and somehow ended up on the right side of the scoreline. It was galling for the hosts, who did a lot right during the contest, but ultimately La Rochelle did just enough to make it into the quarter-finals.
