Top 14: La Rochelle ends the year well by largely beating a revamped Stade Toulousain

Rochelais and Toulouse played their last match of the year 2023. The remake of the last Top 14 final delivered its verdict this Saturday at the end of the 11th day of the championship. And La Rochelle largely won with the offensive bonus (29-8) against a revamped Stade Toulousain and without the majority of its executives (Mauvaka, Baille, Jelonch, Cros, Dupont, Ramos, Ahki...). Ronan O’Gara’s men scored three tries including one penalty (14th). Levani Botia (38th) and Nathan Bollengier (40th) flattened in the Toulouse goal in the first period. Leyds, 10 minutes before the hour mark, also went queen. Vergé's try at the end of the game changed nothing. Thanks to this success, the Maritimes move up to 8th place, one point behind Stade Toulousain, 7th.

At the start of the match, it was Toulouse who took the game into their own hands, endangering the La Rochelle defense. But the visitors lacked pragmatism, unlike the Rochelais who took advantage of their first foray into the opposing camp to score a try. After an illegally collapsed maul, the referee went under the poles to award a penalty try (14th). Brennan received a yellow card for accumulating a Toulouse foul.

In the 32nd minute, Ugo Mola's men reacted by unlocking their counter via Germain's boot. But before half-time, the Maritimes raised their voice by signing a second try (38th). After a superb refocusing kick from Leyds, Seuteni volleyed the ball to Botia who finished in the goal. Then Bollengier crucified the visitors by scoring a third try after the siren, intercepting a pass from Germain (43rd). The locals returned to the locker room with an advantage of 21 points (24-3), taking a serious option.

The return from the locker room did not benefit Toulouse, who quickly conceded a fourth try, synonymous with a bonus for the Rochelais. Kerr-Barlow quickly played a penalty towards Thomas. Dulin then jumped the pass to Leyds who hooked Capuozzo before throwing into the end zone. The match was then interspersed with temporary exclusions: Faasalele (55th) and Mallia (76th) saw yellow while Lavault received a red for a shoulder charge on the head of an opponent (55th). Finally, while the Maritimes were looking to have fun by scoring a final try, Delibes intercepted a kick from Reus, and allowed Vergé to go into the goal. A small consolation for Toulouse, who did not measure up on Saturday evening.