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.
However, there was very little drama for anyone of a Leicester persuasion to get too concerned about. Their place in the last 16 is secure, as is the reigning champions’ after they impressively handled tricky conditions in Salford to end Sale’s hopes of qualification, handing them a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions. In truth, despite a promising start and a flurry of late points, they were well beaten.
“I’m proud of their efforts, I’m pleased with our endeavour in attack but … not good enough, ultimately,” said Alex Sanderson, the Sale director of rugby. “We’ve a way to go if we want to start competing hard in this competition.”
His side began well and had a knock-on from Levani Botia been deemed deliberate inside the opening 10 minutes just as Sale looked set to open the scoring, it could have been a different afternoon.
But La Rochelle were outstanding for much of the opening half, particularly defensively. With the strong wind behind them in that first 40 minutes, they made their advantage count. Within a minute of Sale coming close to breaking the deadlock, the visitors promptly headed up the other end and did exactly that. Wonderful pressure in midfield from the outstanding UJ Seuteni saw the ball bounce into the arms of Dillyn Leyds, who finished well under pressure.
Sale’s cause was not helped by a serious looking knee injury to Jonny Hill, too, and while the home side were certainly competing, they had no answer for the might of La Rochelle’s defensive superiority all half. The tricky conditions were underlined by Sale refusing a kickable penalty when trailing 10-0 but Sam James could not find touch and the defending champions certainly made Sanderson’s men pay.
Three well taken penalties from the boot of Antoine Hastoy after that Leyds try opened up a commanding 16-0 lead at the break: but with the wind behind them, it was difficult to know how much worth that actually held, given Sale would have the advantage in that regard after the restart. However, any doubts over whether the wind had proved decisive in La Rochelle’s first-half display were quickly dispelled.
Three minutes into the second half, Seuteni broke from deep and Hastoy was in support to score under the posts and convert to make it 23-0. Then, four minutes later, the game was emphatically put to bed as another breakaway try, this time involving Botia, led to Tawera Kerr-Barlow touching down. At 30-0, Sale’s race, and their qualification hopes, were run but they showed plenty of resolve in the final half-hour to add some respectability to proceedings.
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They finally crossed for a try when a slick handling move led to Tom Roebuck finishing in the corner and when Hastoy and Brice Dulin were both sent to the sin bin inside three minutes, Sale narrowed the gap further when Agustín Creevy crossed from the back of the maul. However, any hopes of a comeback were eliminated when Seuteni scored to secure the bonus point for La Rochelle: though Sale finished with a flourish, with late tries for Sam Dugdale and Telusa Veainu adding some respectability to the scoreline.
Their efforts merited it, but the Challenge Cup beckons in spring. “We’ll be good when we play, I think,” O’Gara said in a warning to the rest. Few will fancy facing La Rochelle anywhere.
