Champions Cup – in the composition of La Rochelle, the game of seven differences

Seven changes in the starting fifteen! The La Rochelle team that will present itself at the start of this long-awaited revenge in Dublin will not look like the one that entered the Orange Vélodrome in Marseille a year ago. Ronan O’Gara, of course, can count on his executives, on this slightly right-leaning backbone with Pierre Bourgaret, Owenyi Atunio, Will Skelton, Gregory Aldrete, and Bryce Dolin. But apart from the back triangle (Dulin, Leyds, Rhule), the offshore crew will present a formation with changes in all lines.

It starts with a fully renewed hinge since Tawera Kerr-Barlow was injured last season and left Ihia West for Toulon. The absence of one half of the New Zealand Scrum Cup was reviving the preliminary game of the previous final. A victim of a broken left hand, the Irish media spread a rumor that a company in Cork had been approached to manufacture a protective glove so that the player could fill in for him. Ronan O’Gara did not deny the maneuver to the skeptic, as Tawera Kerr-Barlow is very important to direct the La Rochelle attackers and determine the pace required for the meeting. Thus, his presence in Dublin is a serious advantage this season. He will form the hinge with Antoine Hastoy, who arrived last summer in La Rochelle to take over from the West (see below) and in particular to give guarantees against the Poles.

Aldrete changes lieutenants

The third line is no longer related to the line that started in Marseille. Since then, Flanker Wiaan Liebenberg has retired, a few weeks before celebrating his 30th birthday, after an amazing final season and a prerequisite for the proper operation of Stade La Rochelle. Only the indefatigable international Gregory Aldrete is still present at the heart of this third-tier side since Matthias Haddad, who has had a meteoric rise, has had a difficult season with a series of injuries. While he was announced on the gates of the France squad, he had to undergo knee surgery during the holiday period before relapsing when he resumed at the end of October. When he returned to competition at the end of March, he made a round trip on the grass at Matmut Atlantique against Union Bordeaux-Bègles due to concussion protocol and in the next match against Bayonne. , injured in the ankle.

Levani Botia, who played a key role in the previous final, took the position left by Liebenberg and, in turn, became indispensable, like his performance in the quarter-final against Saracens. Across from Grégory Alldritt, Ultan Dillane seemed to have won since December. The staff must finally trust Paul Bodhunt, who almost became a starter in the semi-final by substituting Levani Botia in the 19th minute. His tenure resembles a personal vendetta. He only played a minute in the first final against Toulouse, dislocating his shoulder after coming on. Now I’m laughing at it but I experienced it as humiliation.admits the player, who then missed the Marseille final, and has not yet fully recovered after the injury that sidelined him at the end of April.

On the front line, Reda Wardi, who came on as a substitute for Marseille, replaced Dani Brisso, who left for Toulon. The La Rochelle left fielder reached a new level, becoming an international in the fall and playing seven games for the Blues. In the second row, Thomas Lavolt and Romain Sazi swap places. The former captain and future retiree is driven to rage to live out his last shots of passion and glory before hanging up. An energy that allows him to have a very good season. Finally, the final change comes in La Rochelle’s center of attack. Jeremy Senzel, who was pregnant alongside Jonathan Dante during the coronation, also went to Toulon. He was replaced by Ulupano Seuteni who arrived from Union Bordeaux-Bègles. Immediately establishing himself as the head of the Maritime Defence, he is also capable of being a diabolical striker as he is in the semi-final against Exeter.

6-2 fresh off the bench

Apart from all these changes in the starting fifteen, the coaching staff must also change their tone on the bench. In fact, last season he picked Ronan O’Gara 5-3 with Arthur Ritier, Jules Favre and … Levani Botia for the lines of defense. Over the past few weeks, the staff has favored forwards with six reinforcements off the bench. That option is still to be approved on Saturday, with three “junior” newcomers: Quentin Lesbiauk-Brits, Altan Dylan and Georges-Henri Colomb Riesel. The latter wouldn’t be a complete rookie at this level of competition since he started in the 2020 final with Racing 92 against Exeter.