La Rochelle beats Toulouse at the end of the first day of the Top 14

La Rochelle brings down the champion straight away! In its lair of Marcel-Deflandre, the Maritimes had the last word Sunday evening against Stade Toulousain (30-27), at the end of the first day of the championship. Trailing by 14 points at the break, Ronan O'Gara's players produced a fiery second half to overthrow the Rouge et Noir at the last second, thanks to a penalty from Antoine Hastoy.

Also read The stunning maritime hinge, Menoncello's fury, the second lifeless period of the French champion... The tops and flops of the clash between La Rochelle and Toulouse

Menoncello, dream start

Everything started well for the locals who saw their second line Kante Samba go on trial after a quarter of an hour of play. But that was the time that the Haut-Garonnais needed to get into shape. Because, in the process, it was Ugo Mola’s men who went to queens. A first time through their Italian recruit Tommaso Menoncello (17th), author of a sumptuous breakthrough to flatten his first try in Top 14, before seeing his colossus of teammate, Emmanuel Meafou, also dive into the La Rochelle goal a few moments later (23rd). To drive the point home, Romain Ntamack also gave himself a try at the half-hour mark, all punctuated by the “boot” of Thomas Ramos.

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Lightning response from the Maritimes

Then trailing 10-24 at half-time, the Rochelais went back to full speed in the second act, guided by Nolann Le Garrec of the great evenings, author of 22 points. The maritime scrum half – who was almost injured in a tackle by an out-of-sight Antoine Dupont – first went to queen (52nd) before passing a long-range penalty and shaking up the quadruple French champions. So much so that the latter came close to being penalized at the hour mark, seeing the main referee, Mr. Ramos, refuse a new try at the premises of Louis Penverne. But, in the process, Antoine Hastoy came to do justice to his team (65th), largely dominant in the last 40 minutes.

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