Wasps stung by the new French force

A NEW force is rising in European rugby. La Rochelle look ready to take up the mantle from phenomenal French sides of the past, such as Guy Noves’ all-conquering Toulouse and, more recently, Toulon’s triple Champions Cup winners. At their heaving home fortress yesterday, La Rochelle inflicted a six-try hammering on closest Pool 1 rivals Wasps. Patrice Collazo’s side have a maximum haul of 15 points after three rounds. Not bad for a team making their debut in the Champions Cup. ‘That was certainly the best team I’ve coached against in Europe,’ said Dai Young, the Wasps director of rugby. ‘Some of their offloading was pretty special and obviously

they had that physicality on both sides of the ball.’ Wasps were effectively dead and buried at the break. The half-time stats said it all, La Rochelle making 664 metres with ball in hand compared to 68 for the visitors. Losing Springbok full back Willie le Roux to illness just before kick-off was not ideal for Wasps and it got worse when flanker Thomas Young was sin-binned for a tip-tackle on Alexi Bales. Brock James fired over the resulting penalty but 14-man Wasps hit back through Rob Miller. The hosts then capitalised on two Wasps errors to score two quick-fire tries. First, Pierre Aguillon charged down Danny Cipriani’s poor clearance to touch down. Pierre Bougart then charged on to an overthrown Wasps line-out for his side’s second try. Young atoned for his yellow card with a powerful finish in the corner before Levani Botia scored La Rochelle’s third. The bonus-point-clinching try arrived five minutes into the second half when Vincent Rattez raced over. The flying La Rochelle wing would soon bag his brace after Elliot Daly had hit back for Wasps. Late tries from substitutes Joe Simpson and Will Stuart secured a late bonus point for Wasps but La Rochelle had the final say as Botia blasted his way through the Wasps defence for try No 6. Next Sunday’s rematch at the Ricoh Arena is effectively win or bust for Wasps now.