By TOM JEFFREYS
Tries: Roebuck 59, Creevy 67, Dugdale 77, Veainu 80+2
Conversions: Ford 68, Bedlow 79
La Rochelle…………………………………37
Tries: Leyds 9, Hastoy 43, Kerr-Barlow 47, Seuteni 72
Conversions: Hastoy 10, 45, 48; Reus 74
Penalties: Hastoy 14, 38, 40+2
La Rochelle placed on a weather-conditions masterclass to safe Champions Cup knockout qualification and condemn Sale Sharks to the Problem Cup for a second straight season.
A straight shootout for qualification, it was maybe probably the most engaging fixture of the ultimate pool stage spherical as a reborn La Rochelle travelled to an out of types Sale.
With their formsheets polar opposites – La Rochelle gained their final three while Sale had misplaced them heading into the sport – the double-reigning champions continued their momentum with 30 unanswered factors to seal qualification.
20 of those got here from fly half Antoine Hastoy whose administration of the ferocious wind proved superior. His early second half attempt, in addition to Tawera Kerr-Barlow’s, have been the distinction makers, blunting Sale’s optimism with the wind behind them early within the second half.
A semblance of a comeback by tries from Tom Roebuck and Agustín Creevy was nullified by a Ulupano Seuteni intercept, earlier than comfort efforts from Sam Dugdale and Telusa Veainu gave Sale one thing to carry onto.
The sturdy circumstances instantly labored to Sale’s detriment, twice failing to exit. Power box-kicker Gus Warr was pressured to look extensive – an choice learn by a speeding La Rochelle defence.
A Rob Du Preez grubber was due to this fact smothered and winger Dillyn Leyds was the primary to the unfastened ball, holding off the scramble defence properly to the touch down.
Regardless of constructing a fast 10-0 lead, the remainder of the half grew to become extremely irritating for La Rochelle, who seemed to be chasing the sport to benefit from the gusty circumstances.
Poor self-discipline was negated by Sale’s lack of ability to determine any discipline place, however amongst flaring tempers Hastoy was capable of take his facet three scores clear at half-time.
After a gradual finish to the primary, La Rochelle started the second half with a brutal exemplification of their champion high quality. A ten-phase Sale assault of their first possession of the half was turned over brilliantly by Botia, and the ball was shortly labored extensive, permitting Hastoy to race clear and dot down beneath the posts.
Now filled with momentum regardless of enjoying into the wind, La Rochelle earned a penalty on midway. Opting to fast faucet, they labored by the phases earlier than releasing Lespiaucq down the left flank who was stopped only a metre from the road.
Scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow was available to dot down, however the true spotlight was Hastoy’s scarcely plausible touchline conversion. Inside six second half minutes and two counter assaults, it was 30-0.
The following passage of play was the place you actually acquired the impression that Sale have been enjoying the double-reigning champions. Twice Sam James returned wind-affected clearances with curiosity – one on both flank – but each Tom Roebuck and Reed had diving finishes disallowed by attempt saving tackles.
Teddy Thomas made the attempt saver on Reed, earlier than latching onto Sam Dugdale in a maul to carry up a seemingly sure attempt.
Sale have been, nevertheless, finally capable of get them onto the rating sheet ten minutes later. Invigorated by a returning Dan du Preez, Sam James took an offload and unfold the ball to Roebuck to attain within the nook.
Predictably within the circumstances, Sale continued to assault the La Rochelle line. Ailing-discipline obstructed them this time, with Hastoy blemishing an in any other case faultless recreation with a crew yellow.
Within the consequent assault, a protecting Brice Dulin noticed a foul play problem on Reed mitigated all the way down to a yellow to depart La Rochelle two brief within the backs.
It was within the forwards, nevertheless, Sale subsequent scored, with Agustín Creevy guiding a maul over the road. His attempt made the rating 30-12, giving Sale 13 minutes and a two man benefit to outlive within the competitors.
This, nevertheless, in opposition to a La Rochelle crew with rediscovered kind, was no easy activity and a quiet 5 minutes prompted George Ford to seek for some extra speculative choices. Stumbling on a kick return, he seemed to assault extensive, however centre Ulupano Seuteni intercepted simply to saunter beneath the posts.
With the sport sealed and qualification delivered, a younger Sale ending 15 confirmed good character to create tries for the spectacular Sam Dugdale and Telusa Veainu. It was, after all, too little too late, with the flurry of tries at first of the second half placing the sport out of attain.
Sale: James; Roebuck, R du Preez, Bedlow, Reed; Ford, Warr; Onasanya, Cowan-Dickie, Schonert, Bamber, Hill, Dugdale, Curry (capt), Beaumont
Replacements: Creevy, Opoku-Fordjour, Harper, Ellis, D du Preez, Thomas, Ma’asi-White, Veainu
La Rochelle: Dulin; Thomas, Seuteni, Tanga, Leyds; Hastoy, Kerr-Barlow; Wardi, Lespiaucq, Atonio, Dillane, Skelton, Boudehent, Botia, Alldritt (capt)
Replacements: Latu, Sclavi, Kuntelia, Lavault, Cancoriet, Berjon, Reus, Nowell
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