RONAN O’GARA’S LA Rochelle ran Toulouse close for 70 minutes of their Top14 clash this afternoon, but the four-time European champions finished strong to post a 39-23 win.
Jules Plisson’s penalty with 10 minutes remaining brought La Rochelle right into contention at 26-23,
However, the hosts had Thomas Ramos in fine goal-kicking form and he struck his fifth and sixth penalty of the day before converting Sofiane Guitone’s late try to deny La Rochelle a point for their efforts.
Eight days out from their Champions Cup quarter-final meeting at home to Ulster, Toulouse hit the ground running and scored two first-half tries through Springbok wing Cheslin Kolbe.
Pierre Bourgarit and Dillyn Leyds crossed the whitewash in response for La Rochelle either side of the interval, but Ramos’ boot kept the scoreboard ticking upwards for Toulouse.
Meanwhile, Racing 92 saw Kurtley Beale red-carded during their 41-17 win over Montpellier. The Paris giants will likely have to do without the versatile Australian for their European showdown with Clermont.
Carty out there playing to prove a point! Should be 1st choice IRE No.10 on this form.
@Paraic Faherty: himself and Billy burns are playing great stuff
@Paraic Faherty: agreed billy burns and jack carthy should be ireland’s no 10.sextons days looked numbered.he don’t influence matches anymore and he needs to step aside for the better of the irish team
@reginald: he will step aside when they prove they are better than him and take it from him.. but as of now he is the best – end of !
@Paraic Faherty: he looked flabby and disinterested this evening to be honest.
First time I’ve ever agreed with Toland…. A mystery why Denis Buckley has never got an international cap
Excellent aggression and energy from Connacht so far and exposing the pillars and Luke picking and looking before passing.
This is the kind of rugby you want to be watching – Massively competitive and lots of little cameos asking tons of questions
Cracking game after a frustrating Ulster Munster game
@Mark O’Donohoe: and Connacht were 12/1…
Well Daly was shading myMOTM before try….certainly is now
Some of them leinster backs aren’t up to it at all
Connachts aggressive linespeed is proving really decisive. Under strength Leinster team, but Connacht deservedly well ahead & varying their plays keeping Leinster guessing.
Baird stands out from a great Leinster backrow.
@Daithí O’ Donnabhain: a great backrow on paper perhaps – need to get their act together
Connacht’s back three are costing them a lot of tries from bad positioning this season. They have been great in attack mind.
I am so so Pleased for Connacht, as a Leinster fan they totally deserved the win, if anyone was to beat Leinster I am so glad it was them
This is what happens when you have provide for the whole Ireland squad because other teams can’t produce players
@tomas o beag: didn’t seem a problem during international windows at all. Strength in depth is wjat Leinster are all about.
@tomas o beag: or maybe this is what happens when you spend 4 years blowing smoke up players and every academy lad believes he’s the next coming of BOD. Tonight has poured a fair bit of cold water on a Lot of young Leinster backs, destroyed by Connacht
@Dave O Keeffe: bit of an issue when you can’t play majority of your squad
@guineon: or maybe this is what happens when you play an odd mix of a team and give some young lads in Year 1 of academy a shot at an inter pro. Probably weakest Leinster team I’ve seen for a long time especially after HIA on Sexton.
Great experience but clearly didnt work. I’m sure the whole Covid situation at Leinster hasn’t helped prep either.
Great play by Connacht all the same – they can only play what’s in front of them
@guineon: destroyed?? No out half, team of mostly youths and won by 13 points and disallowed try
@guineon: t
@tomas o beag: so there was ~40 players out was there?
@guineon: two academy players in the back line one of them played well the other was quiet I think they got destroyed by having a 13 at out half and throwing terrible passes and taking up the ball a lot Tom daly is also from Leinster Arnold Munster not Connacht and they are the two that destroyed them
@JJ Doyle: Carty from Connacht man of the match stop crying
@Kohn Jeenan: didn’t say he wasn’t man of the match just said the centers played well and really stop crying what age are u really representing your province well and btw come back to me when u win a European cup
@tomas o beag: oh dear JJ.
No out half really showing
@JJ Doyle: have you missed Carty… 2 tries… running the show…
@JJ Doyle: I don’t follow. Do you mean that Carty is having a bad game?
@John Rogers: no he’s been brilliant
@Mark O’Donohoe: Sorry, I was asking the original poster.
@John Rogers: for Leinster having no out half playing when sexton went off
@JJ Doyle: Jack Carty’s 25 points is the most scored by a single player against Leinster in the professional era
I am so so pleased for Connacht, as a Leinster fan , they totally deserved the win
Fascinating last half hour coming up
Where does this leaves Leinster now in terms of playoff spot?
@Pete McEvoy: have they not won every game up to this point??
@Pete McEvoy: have to beat ulster with bonus point basically
@BMJF: So have Ulster
@tomas o beag: And Maybe make sure Ulster don’t get anything from the game
Now we’re talkin
@John Lowry: Probably got a major bollocking from Cullen & Lancaster in the dressing room. They’re a different team now, should be a crackin second half.
@Daithí O’ Donnabhain: totally
I am so so Pleased for Connacht, as a Leinster fan they totally deserved the win, if anyone was to beat Leinster I am so glad it was them
@Jan Nolan: why don’t you post a comment?
I am so so pleased for Connacht, as a Leinster fan , they totally deserved the win
I am so so pleased for Connacht, as a Leinster fan , they totally deserved the win
@Jan Nolan: Going out on a limb here Jan. I think you’re pleased for Connacht. Correct me if I’m wrong Jan