The eagerly anticipated shootout for qualification from Pool 4 of the Champions Cup turned out to be straightforward for the back-to-back champions. Defeats to Leinster and Stormers in the opening two rounds left some wondering whether La Rochelle could even qualify for the last 16, let alone threaten to match Toulon’s historic three in a row.
But Ronan O’Gara’s side have returned to form just in time. They dismantled Leicester last week and on Sunday were once again superior against English opposition to qualify and, in the process, consign Sale to the Challenge Cup. Sale knew victory here would see them qualify regardless and even Leicester would have watched this with some tension, given that a Sale win and two losing bonus points for La Rochelle would have meant Leicester had to settle for the Challenge Cup.
