Exceptional match to kick off the Champions Cup. Stade Rochelais, reigning European champion, hosts vice-champion Leinster. Follow the shock live.
16:16 – Bourgarit escapes
While Kerr-Barlow was close to losing the ball, Pierre Bourgarit recovered it and found space in the 22 meters.
4:15 p.m. – Players enter!
The players enter the pitch at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre. The kick-off of the clash is imminent!
16:11 – Dantesque conditions in La Rochelle!
For this meeting, the playing conditions are Dantean at the Marcel-Deflandre stadium where the wind and rain are very present.
16:10 – How to follow La Rochelle – Leinster in streaming?
If you want to watch the clash for Stade Rochelais’ entry into the Champions Cup against Leinster on your computer, phone or tablet, you will need to take out a subscription on MyCanal, BeInSport or create an account on France TV.
16:05 – Botia: “We will fight”
Strong man of La Rochelle, Levani Botia did not hide his excitement at the idea of facing the Irish team Leinster: “Everyone wants to see this match, which is special for those who have been there for a long time. C “It’s a new chapter, but we want to keep the standards high, like the last times we played them. It’s the Irish team, that motivates me a lot. A defeat at home? We won’t let that happen , retorts the Fijian third row. We will be in front of our families and our supporters, we will fight and do what is necessary to defend our stadium.
4:00 p.m. – Match odds
For this clash, Stade Rochelais is the underdog at home against Leinster according to online sports betting sites:
- Betclic: La Rochelle: 1.90 / Draw: 20.00 / Leinster: 1.88
- Bwin: La Rochelle: 1.95 / Draw: 14.00 / Leinster: 1.78
- ZeBet: La Rochelle: 1.88 / Draw: 20.00 / Leinster: 1.80
- Unibet: La Rochelle: 1.96 / Draw: 20.00 / Leinster: 1.85
15:55 – Alldritt out until January
An indisputable element of Stade Rochelais, Grégory Alldritt has been away from the field since the elimination of the French XV during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Arriving at the end of his strength, the third row will not return to the field until January.
3:50 p.m. – Bourgarit: “The impression that we have reached a milestone”
Captain today, Pierre Bourgarit confirmed Stade Rochelais’ renewed form after a complicated start to the season: “There is still that last half hour against Perpignan, even if it’s not Leinster. But when I “Look at the quality of our week, I feel like we’ve reached a milestone and that these thirty minutes have done a lot of good for us.”
15:45 – Van der Flier on the bench, Leinster lineup
For this meeting, Leo Cullen has chosen to put third row Van der Flier on the substitutes’ bench while regulars from the competition and the 6 Nations tournament will be present on the pitch: Porter, Sheehan, Doris, Gibson-Park or again Keenan but also the formidable center pair of Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose. Here are the fifteen players who will start against La Rochelle: 1. Porter 2. Sheehan 3. Ala’alatoa 4. McCarthy 5. Ryan 6. Baird 7. Connors 8. Doris 9. Gibson-Park 10. H. Byrne 11. O ‘Brien 12. Henshaw 13. Ringrose 14. Larmour 15. Keenan.
3:40 p.m. – The ranking of the group before the matches
While Stade Français is currently traveling to Sale Sharks, here are the matches in Group 4 of the Champions Cup:
- Sale Sharks – Stade Français
- Leicester Tigers – Stormers
- La Rochelle – Leinster
3:35 p.m. – An Englishman blowing the whistle
For this clash between the Rochelais and the Leinster Lions, the Englishman Matthew Carley will be on the whistle.
3:30 p.m. – The La Rochelle XV to challenge Leinster
For this clash, Stade Rochelais coach Ronan O’Gara made some changes compared to the last confrontation between the two teams. Resting until January, Grégory Alldritt is absent like Raymond Rhule while Yoan Tanga and Jules Favre replace them. Pierre Bourgarit will be the captain, surrounded by his partners in Blues, Wardi and Atonio on the front line: 1. Wardi 2. Bourgarit 3. Atonio 4. Lavault 5. Skelton 6. Boudehent 7. Botia 8. Tanga 9. Kerr-Barlow 10 . Hastoy 11. Favre 12. Danty 13. Seuteni 14. Leyds 15. Dulin.
15:25 – The remake of the last two finals
The Champions Cup started this weekend and rugby fans are already entitled to a gala poster. This afternoon, Stade Rochelais hosts Leinster at the Marcel-Deflandre stadium for the remake of the last two European finals.