La Rochelle storm into the Champions Cup semi-finals for the first time

April 10, 2021
2331
Ultimate Rugby

La Rochelle storm into the Champions Cup semi finals with a convincing 24 point victory over the Sale Sharks.

Man of the Match Raymond Rhule scored twice for the TOP14 outfit and assisted another while France centre Geoffrey Doumayrou also ran in a pair of tries with tries apiece for Gregory Alldritt and Dillyn Leyds.

Sam James and Byron McGuigan both scored for Sale Sharks, who were soundly beaten despite keeping it close at half time.

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At the break, La Rochelle led 18-16 but they dominated the second half scoring 27 unanswered points before Byron McGuigan scored a consolation try in the final knockings of the game.

AJ MacGinty edged Sale in front from the tee in the 9th minute but Ihaia West responded with two of his own by the 21st minute. MacGinty leveled things in the 27th minute but La Rochelle struck with the opening try of the game.

A wonderful attack from right to left saw Ihaia West weight two cross kicks perfectly before the New Zealander hung on up perfectly for fellow country Victor Vito who produced this stellar offload for Gregory Alldritt to score.

So much to love about this try 😍

But can we talk about Victor Vito's offload? 🤤#HeinekenChampionsCup #LARvSAL pic.twitter.com/eBpGDwT4jQ
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) April 10, 2021

West missed the conversion and MacGinty made it a two-point game with another penalty. A well-read defensive read saw Dillyn Leyds knock the ball backwards before sprinting away to extend La Rochelle's advantage to 18-9 with West adding the two.

Sam James finished a well-worked try on the stroke of half time.

Raymond Rhule got La Rochelle off to a perfect start in the second half as he sliced through the defence before stepping past the last defender before scoring a stunner.

That step from @Rhule11 ⚡️ #HeinekenChampionsCup #LARvSAL pic.twitter.com/UIbIxrYdsx
— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) April 10, 2021

Rhule had a second when he brilliantly kicked on a bouncing ball out the grasps of Sale's fullback James before racing away to score.

Rhule then stepped off a defender before sending Geoffrey Doumayrou through to score. West added another three before Doumayrou sped through the defence and cement the win for La Rochelle with ten minutes to play.