Stade Rochelais continued their unbeaten run in the Investec Champions Cup with a commanding 35-7 victory over the Bristol Bears at Stade Marcel-Deflandre. The match on Saturday showcased La Rochelle's dominance over their Pool Two rivals.
Jack Nowell got the scoring underway for La Rochelle, crossing the line for the first try at the 16-minute mark after the home side executed a fluid attacking play. Tolu Latu followed suit, adding another try just before the half-hour mark. Ihaia West converted both, putting the French champions up 14-0. Bristol made their presence felt just before halftime when Jack Bates scored, with Sam Worsley successfully converting, closing the gap to 14-7.
Nevertheless, the second half saw La Rochelle regain control with authority. Levani Botia powered through the Bristol defense to score at the 50-minute mark, followed by UJ Seuteni's dazzling individual effort at the 65-minute mark. West, who was perfect from the tee, converted all five tries for La Rochelle, resulting in 10 points from conversions. Thomas Berjon capped off the game with another try, sealing the bonus-point victory for La Rochelle.
While La Rochelle displayed strength and depth, Bristol struggled with discipline; the early yellow card for Gabriel Oghre set the tone for the encounter, leading to multiple possession losses against the relentless French side. Even with flashes of offense, Bristol failed to maintain the pace, leaving them with considerable work to do moving forward.
Looking forward, La Rochelle is set to face Leinster on January 11 at 10:15 AM ET, one of the most anticipated matches of the competition. The Bristol Bears will look to recover against Benetton, also on January 12 at 10:15 AM ET.
Another match of note was Harlequins' impressive 53-16 victory over the Stormers at the Twickenham Stoop. This performance proved pivotal after their recent defeat to Racing 92, with Alex Dombrandt and Cadan Murley both notching hat-tricks.
The game began ominously for Harlequins, as the Stormers took the lead with two penalties from Jurie Matthee, putting the English side down 6-0. But as the match progressed, Harlequins found their stride, equalizing and then taking full control. Murley was integral to the turnaround, scoring his first try soon after the visitors had stormed out to the early lead.
Even the yellow card for Stormers' Irne Herbst did not disrupt Harlequins' resurgence, as they capitalized on the opportunity to take the lead. Danny Care's influence was palpable as he assisted Dombrandt's initial score and directed play expertly.
After halftime, Harlequins truly took flight, with their offense unrelenting. Murley and Dombrandt completed their hat-tricks, and Sam Riley sealed the superb performance with another score late on. The hosts executed their game plan with efficiency and pace, overcoming the Stormers efficiently.
Notably, this defeat marked another disheartening day for South African teams participating. With the Bulls also falling to Northampton Saints, it raised questions about the fortunes of South African sides. They find themselves on the brink of elimination as the competition intensifies.
These results amplify the challenges each team faces within the Investec Champions Cup format, leaving fans eager for the next rounds. Harlequins' clinical performance has set them up well, but Bristol and the struggling South African teams must regroup quickly to stay competitive. This weekend sets up exciting fixtures as the results push teams to adapt and excel under intense pressure.
