Saracens, once Europe's great controllers, submit to La Rochelle
Stade Rochelais, the reigning champions, dispatch the kings of the previous era.
La Rochelle 24 - 10 Saracens.
This used to be Saracens’ domain. For a few years, the deep waters of the European knockouts were their home.
They the sharks who preyed and patrolled - rugby’s apex predators who garnered no love but amassed respect. Efficient and simplistic in how they disposed of challengers. Their dominion quickly became the natural order.
Perhaps a few years ago the Bay of Biscay would be a suitable hunting ground for Saracens. A pitstop on the road to greater heights, where a side replete with test quality talent could refuel on one of the Atlantic Ocean’s most enticing waterfronts and it’s Parisian-style cafés.
Time transforms things, of course. Players change and age; some enter their prime whilst others leave theirs. Scandals come to light and punishments are handed out. The hunted tire of their role in the circle of life, and the predator-prey reversal begins.
Saracens’ power and pragmatism was once key to their trophies - a time where Billy Vunipola’s carries were ferocious, and the remaining seven in the pack were fearful in their own right. Their rugby so seemingly simple at times, yet near impossible to resist. The ‘Men in Black’, an appropriately nefarious name for rugby’s pantomime villains.
It’s well known that a decade ago La Rochelle sat in French rugby’s second division, and even a few years ago were still establishing themselves as a Top 14 mainstay.
There’s no history or rivalry between these two clubs that sit roughly over 500 miles apart, but they represent compelling case studies in the changing paradigm and power shift in the Heineken Cup in the last half a decade.
It was of course Saracens who tormented one of Europe’s perennial favourites Leinster many a time, and now La Rochelle have potentially taken up the mantle of scarring the Dubliners.
Few imagined La Rochelle would reach the heights they’re currently at, the club aside of course. They envisioned their success as part of a sustainable plan formulated by Sporting Director Robert Mohr, the German who spent a decade at the French club and briefly captained them in the Top 14.
It may not be a formal part of that plan, but they find themselves at Europe’s summit, in part, by emulating Saracens’ physicality in their heyday. And how fitting that on Saracens’ journey back to the top of the mountain, it’s the very sort of power and control they once wielded that stopped their climb dead.
Former Saracen Will Skelton once again added an unparalleled level of carnality to Stade Rochelais’ pack on Sunday - one that Saracens used to win three European Cups in four years, and a physicality that La Rochelle are currently using to bend Europe to their will.
And Saracens were certainly bent to La Rochelle’s will at the weekend. At no point did a win for the English side look feasible. Forced to take a yellow tsunami, the visitors couldn’t handle the individual waves of Levani Botia, Skelton, Jonathan Danty and Gregory Alldritt. All of whom dominated in contact and at the breakdown. The latter of which defined the contest more than any other area as, despite some contentious referring, the Maritimes ruled the rucks and denied their opponents of opportunities to attack.
After roughly 20 minutes, Billy Vunipola left the field on a stretcher. Not that he would have changed much in the face of Botia, but his absence allowed the flanker-cum-centre to dominate the game that much more. He was everywhere. He won turnover after turnover. He defended in the fringes and the backline, and he broke through Saracens’ defence with ease - his break and inside pass for Tawera Kerr-Barlow's second try providing a finishing blow. His player of the match award was deserved.
Alldritt too fed Kerr-Barlow for a score earlier in the game - a sumptuous and unexpected offload that opened up a crater in Saracens’ backline. Antoine Hastoy kept the scoreboard steadily rising as his pack won, and Saracens’ leaked, penalties at will. The visitors kept up the fight, but there was to be no twelfth round knockout here.
Inevitability
Surely many wondered if Gloucester had perhaps shown the way to beat La Rochelle? Their inspirational performance in the Round of 16, in which they silenced and so nearly stunned the Stade Marcel Deflandre seemed to expose some frailties in the defending champions. A greater side like Saracens would be more well-equipped to make them pay.
That was far from reality of course, and even on Sunday, as they wholly overwhelmed a Saracens side who are far from the level they once were, La Rochelle didn’t look entirely all-encompassing. As commanding as their 16-3 lead at halftime seemed, it arguably should have been greater.
This too is a team who took until the final moments of the game to beat Ulster 7-3 at home earlier this season; who were almost shocked by Gloucester last week; and won last year’s Champions Cup final with a 78th minute try.
It makes it hard to read into La Rochelle’s performances - the great sides can turn their quality on at will - but it equally seems to invoke an air of inevitability around this side. That you will not wear them down, but it is them that will erode you, perhaps without you even realising. And before you know it, they’re standing with their arms raised at the final whistle, even their most unconvincing performances ending in fated victories.
Fantastic article again Rhys!