La Rochelle - Montpellier: Hastoy continues, Leyds and Nowell on fire, Bouthier misses... The highs and lows

TOPS

Jack Nowell - Dillyn Leyds, an enchanting duo

They were the ones who sounded the revolt, after a less than ideal start for the Rochelais. Well contained by the tight MHR defense, the Rochelais found solutions on the wings of their two phenomena. On the first try, it was Jack Nowell who left his wing to bring in the extra man and combine with Dillyn Leyds. In addition to pulling off some classy moves like Leyds' 25-meter chistera, their cumulative statistics speak for themselves: 180 meters covered, 9 defenders beaten and 4 crossings. If the Rochelais pack was once again at the level, the difference was made thanks to the three-quarters, as on the bonus try, initiated by Nowell and finished by Dulin.

Gregory Alldritt reassuring

He continues to confirm that he is indeed back. Building on his run of a good Six Nations Tournament, the La Rochelle captain seems to have definitively put aside his down period of 2024. Like Will Skelton, he constantly puts his team forward, dominates physical challenges, and has regained his full importance in the maritime game. 52 meters covered, 6 defenders beaten, and above all, 18 passes (!)—that's very good Gregory Alldritt.

Antoine Hastoy illuminates Marcel-Deflandre

He was left with a successful drop goal after the siren in Vannes to win and he seems not to have come down from his cloud since. This evening against Montpellier, the international fly-half scored a whopping 20 points, achieving a 100% (7/7). Directly involved in Dillyn Leyds' try with a footballing act by kicking the ball twice, Hastoy especially slammed home another drop goal. Just after the half-time siren, the 27-year-old fly-half allowed La Rochelle to go into the locker room with a 15-point lead. An excellent kick manager, he is one of the main culprits behind Montpellier's helplessness, asphyxiated in their own half.

FLOPS

Anthony Bouthier was not there

He was brilliant against UBB last weekend. Excellent in his kicking game, spot-on in his animation and inspired against Bordeaux, he got it all wrong against La Rochelle. His substitution in the 53rd minute means a lot. Yet, like his entire team, he had made a good start. It only lasted 15 minutes. He then chained together a direct throw-in (24'), a poorly timed kick (26'), a blocked clearance (48') and a throw-in directly to the 22 (48'). More generally, it is the comparison with Antoine Hastoy that fails him, he who has never managed to reverse the pressure with his foot, despite his renowned shooting power.

Fear of losing the offensive bonus

The further the match progressed, the more we wondered how big the score would be at the end of the match. However, once the (first) bonus try was scored, the Rochelais, although probably physically tired, completely eased off the gas. They began to commit a series of fouls, to retreat in duels and finally had to endure defensive sequences in their 22 meters while the MHR had only spent 4 seconds in this zone in the first half. Too relaxed, the Rochelais thought they had lost the offensive bonus on the penalty try (69'). Finally, thanks to Brice Dulin, the end of the story is positive for them, but this drop in form and the loss of this offensive bonus could have had serious consequences in this race for the top 6, where every point counts.