La Rochelle 20-13 Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors battled their way to a losing bonus-point in La Rochelle this afternoon, despite ultimately being edged out 20-13 by their hosts at the Stade Marcel Deflandre.
Danny Wilson’s men made the French outfit work for their victory, Kyle Steyn’s try and Ross Thompson’s kicking having put the Warriors in front with half an hour to play.
Knowing the importance of starting strongly, the Warriors duly delivered by showing early endeavour with ball in hand. Strong carrying from Jack Dempsey and Sione Tuipulotu, allied to some canny kicking from Thompson and Josh McKay, had the visitors on the front foot early on.
That endeavour was eventually rewarded with six minutes on the clock, as another powerful carry from Dempsey was halted illegally by a La Rochelle defender coming in from the side. Thompson made no mistake from straight in front of the posts 35 metres out, giving the Warriors a 3-0 lead.
The advantage was doubled just seven minutes later, as once again Glasgow’s attack drew the penalty from their hosts. Slick handling from Sam Johnson and Tuipulotu sent Steyn through a gap, before the ball was recycled to put Scott Cummings clear. Whilst the second-rower was dragged down short, referee Matt Carley had spotted an offside defender in midfield, with Thompson making no mistake from the tee.
Glasgow looked in the mood to keep themselves on the front foot, with Josh McKay in particular looking lively with ball in hand. If it wasn’t the quicksilver backs, it was the power of the pack, with Oli Kebble and Cummings putting their hands up time and time again.
Yet not for nothing were La Rochelle runners-up in last season’s competition. Almost out of nothing, the hosts showed what they could do on 21 minutes, excellent interplay from Victor Vito sending Jonathan Danty away. Were it not for the defensive nous of Thompson and Johnson, the hosts would have been celebrating a free-flowing score.
There was no denying the home side on the half-hour mark, though, as La Rochelle did indeed cross for the game’s opening try. Advantage in hand, a chip and chase from Brice Dulin got the home side in behind the defence, with Glasgow scrambling to keep them out at the expense of a penalty. From the kick to touch, Reda Wardi was driven over for the score, Ihaia West converting for a 7-6 lead.
It could have been a double blow for the Warriors if it wasn’t for the effort of Thompson just two minutes later, the fly-half cutting down a charging Paul Boudehent to deny the hosts a second try. As it was, West extended his side’s advantage with 90 seconds of the half remaining, the fly-half knocking over a penalty from 45 metres to take the half-time score to 10-6.

The back-and-forth nature of the match continued in the opening exchanges of the second stanza, with both sides showing their willingness to have a go. The first clear cut chance of the half went the way of the hosts, only for West to miss a penalty from inside his own half with 46 minutes played.
Straight from the restart, the Warriors grabbed the initiative. A rip from Richie Gray saw Zander Fagerson feed brother Matt, with the back-rower charging into the La Rochelle 22 with a piston-like fend keeping defenders at bay.
It was from that initial surge that Glasgow struck. With La Rochelle conceding a second penalty after a five-metre tap and go from George Turner, Ali Price deftly chipped the ball wide for Steyn, the winger finishing superbly despite the attentions of several La Rochelle defenders. Thompson added the extras from out wide, and Glasgow led 13-10 with half an hour to play.
Back came the home side, however, with renewed intent to stamp their authority on affairs. A powerful rolling maul forced Rory Darge into collapsing the drive illegally, being sent to the sin-bin by referee Carley.
It took just three minutes for La Rochelle to make their numerical advantage count, restoring their lead in harem-scarem fashion. Advantage in hand, a series of passes flung wide almost saw Cole Forbes collect the interception, only for the ball to be recycled for Enriko Buliruarua to dive over in the corner. West added the extras, before extending the hosts’ lead to 20-13 with a penalty on 61 minutes.
The French outfit were now firmly on top, relentless in their pursuit of another score. Yet the Warriors defensive line held firm to a man, with Ally Miller earning a crucial lineout steal and Darge proving a menace at the breakdown.
Despite the best efforts of the Warriors, though, a famous draw would elude Danny Wilson’s men. A losing bonus-point was the least their efforts deserved, however, with attentions now turning to the round two clash with Exeter at Scotstoun next Saturday afternoon.
live commentary 3:15 PM Sunday 12 Dec 2021
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Stade Rochelais
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Thomas Berjon
23. Replacement0metres made
0MINUTES PLAYED
0TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
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Eneriko Buliruarua
22. Replacement65metres made
56MINUTES PLAYED
4TACKLES MADE
5COMPLETE PASSES
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Pierre Popelin
21. Replacement0metres made
6MINUTES PLAYED
1TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
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Remi Bourdeau
20. Replacement0metres made
26MINUTES PLAYED
8TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
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Thomas Lavault
19. Replacement0metres made
12MINUTES PLAYED
8TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
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Ramiro Herrera
18. Replacement0metres made
10MINUTES PLAYED
5TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
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Dany Priso
17. Replacement0metres made
10MINUTES PLAYED
3TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
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Guillaume Lagahe
16. Replacement0metres made
0MINUTES PLAYED
0TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
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Gregory Alldritt
8. Number 8147metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
13TACKLES MADE
19COMPLETE PASSES
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Victor Vito
7. Back-row7metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
13TACKLES MADE
2COMPLETE PASSES
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Paul Boudehent
6. Back-row73metres made
54MINUTES PLAYED
8TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
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Will Skelton
5. Second-row30metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
9TACKLES MADE
5COMPLETE PASSES
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Romain Sazy
4. Second-row5metres made
68MINUTES PLAYED
16TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
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Uini Atonio
3. Tighthead prop4metres made
70MINUTES PLAYED
5TACKLES MADE
2COMPLETE PASSES
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Pierre Bourgarit
2. Hooker27metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
16TACKLES MADE
4COMPLETE PASSES
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Reda Wardi
1. Loosehead prop6metres made
70MINUTES PLAYED
12TACKLES MADE
6COMPLETE PASSES
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Tawera Kerr-Barlow
9. Scrum-half16metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
10TACKLES MADE
52COMPLETE PASSES
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Ihaia West
10. Stand-off13metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
5TACKLES MADE
20COMPLETE PASSES
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Arthur Retiere
11. Wing25metres made
24MINUTES PLAYED
1TACKLES MADE
2COMPLETE PASSES
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Jonathan Danty
12. Inside-centre20metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
7TACKLES MADE
6COMPLETE PASSES
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Jérémy Sinzelle
13. Outside-centre6metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
8TACKLES MADE
10COMPLETE PASSES
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Jules Favre
14. Wing69metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
4TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
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Brice Dulin
15. Full-back19metres made
74MINUTES PLAYED
2TACKLES MADE
7COMPLETE PASSES
Glasgow Warriors
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Josh McKay
15. Full-back83metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
5TACKLES MADE
3COMPLETE PASSES
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Kyle Steyn
14. Wing33metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
6TACKLES MADE
3COMPLETE PASSES
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Sione Tuipulotu
13. Outside-centre16metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
7TACKLES MADE
4COMPLETE PASSES
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Sam Johnson
12. Inside-centre16metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
7TACKLES MADE
8COMPLETE PASSES
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Cole Forbes
11. Wing18metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
1TACKLES MADE
3COMPLETE PASSES
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Ross Thompson
10. Stand-off21metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
9TACKLES MADE
30COMPLETE PASSES
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Ali Price
9. Scrum-half7metres made
70MINUTES PLAYED
2TACKLES MADE
65COMPLETE PASSES
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Oli Kebble
1. Loosehead prop4metres made
40MINUTES PLAYED
9TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
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George Turner
2. Hooker16metres made
59MINUTES PLAYED
6TACKLES MADE
3COMPLETE PASSES
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Zander Fagerson
3. Tighthead prop18metres made
68MINUTES PLAYED
9TACKLES MADE
2COMPLETE PASSES
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Scott Cummings
4. Second-row12metres made
68MINUTES PLAYED
4TACKLES MADE
5COMPLETE PASSES
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Richie Gray
5. Second-row1metres made
62MINUTES PLAYED
6TACKLES MADE
7COMPLETE PASSES
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Matt Fagerson
6. Back-row68metres made
66MINUTES PLAYED
10TACKLES MADE
5COMPLETE PASSES
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Rory Darge
7. Back-row5metres made
69MINUTES PLAYED
12TACKLES MADE
3COMPLETE PASSES
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Jack Dempsey
8. Number 855metres made
80MINUTES PLAYED
8TACKLES MADE
6COMPLETE PASSES
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Johnny Matthews
16. Replacement10metres made
21MINUTES PLAYED
2TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
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Jamie Bhatti
17. Replacement8metres made
40MINUTES PLAYED
4TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
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Enrique Pieretto
18. Replacement1metres made
12MINUTES PLAYED
2TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
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Lewis Bean
19. Replacement0metres made
12MINUTES PLAYED
0TACKLES MADE
2COMPLETE PASSES
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Rob Harley
20. Replacement3metres made
18MINUTES PLAYED
0TACKLES MADE
1COMPLETE PASSES
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Ally Miller
21. Replacement3metres made
14MINUTES PLAYED
2TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
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George Horne
22. Replacement2metres made
10MINUTES PLAYED
1TACKLES MADE
23COMPLETE PASSES
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Duncan Weir
23. Replacement0metres made
0MINUTES PLAYED
0TACKLES MADE
0COMPLETE PASSES
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