1 year ago
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Saracens' England planetary fig 8 Billy Vunipola was carried disconnected connected a stretcher during the archetypal half| La Rochelle: (16) 24 |
| Tries: Kerr-Barlow 2; Pens: Hastoy 4; Con: Hastoy |
| Saracens: (3) 10 |
| Try: Mawi; Pen: Farrell; Con: Farrell |
Saracens are retired of the Heineken Champions Cup aft a quarter-final decision by holders La Rochelle.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow's 2 tries either broadside of half-time helped the hosts acceptable up a semi-final necktie against Exeter.
Eroni Mawi burrowed implicit for Saracens, who mislaid Billy Vunipola to wounded successful the archetypal half, but it came excessively precocious for the Premiership leaders.
Antoine Hastoy kicked 14 points for La Rochelle, with Owen Farrell's punishment the lone different points for the visitors.
La Rochelle won the Champions Cup for the archetypal clip successful 2022 and are aiming to scope a 3rd consecutive final.
Their last-four necktie against Exeter volition beryllium played successful Bordeaux, portion Leinster volition instrumentality connected Toulouse successful Dublin successful the different semi-final.
Both ties are scheduled for the play of 29-30 April, with the last astatine Aviva Stadium connected 20 May.
As for Saracens, they indispensable present absorption their attraction connected winning the Premiership title. Mark McCall's broadside are already assured of a location semi-final.
Improved La Rochelle spot disconnected Saracens
La Rochelle were almost upset by Gloucester successful the past 16 but this was a overmuch much assured show by Ronan O'Gara's side, who defended superbly passim and took immoderate points connected connection from the tee aboriginal on.
Hastoy kicked 3 first-half penalties and scrum-half Kerr-Barlow went implicit for the archetypal of La Rochelle's 2 tries conscionable earlier half-time, exchanging passes from a ruck to dart implicit from adjacent range.
After immoderate swift passes created abstraction connected the right, the fantabulous Levani Botia raced wide and acceptable up Kerr-Barlow for his second, which looked to person enactment the contention to bed.
La Rochelle ended the lucifer with 14 players aft full-back Brice Dulin was sent to the sin-bin for a precocious tackle, but their 14-point pb was protected by much outstanding tryline defence.
One downside for the location squad was the precocious wounded sustained by erstwhile Australia and Sarries fastener Will Skelton, who was carried from the tract connected a stretcher successful a cervix brace. Saracens replacement Tom Woolstencroft was yellow-carded for making interaction with Skelton's caput arsenic helium attempted to wide retired a ruck.
Sarries volition await quality of Vunipola's injury, which forced him disconnected midway done the archetypal play and appeared to beryllium a occupation with his close leg.
The England planetary attempted to limp disconnected the tract with assistance from Saracens' aesculapian team, but was yet carried disconnected connected a stretcher.
Champions Cup semi-final schedule
- Leinster v Toulouse - Saturday, 29 April, 15:00 BST (Aviva Stadium, Dublin)
- La Rochelle v Exeter Chiefs - Sunday, 30 April, 15:00 BST (Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux)
Line-ups
La Rochelle: Dulin; Favre, Seuteni, Danty, Rhule; Hastoy, Kerr-Barlow; Wardi, Bourgarit, Atonio, Lavault, Skelton, Dillane, Botia, Alldritt (c).
Replacements: Lespiaucq, Thompson-Stringer, Sclavi, Sazy, Tanga, Bourdeau, Berjon, Thomas.
Saracens: Goode; Malins, Lozowski, Tompkins, Maitland; Farrell (c), Van Zyl; M Vunipola, George, Riccioni, Itoje, Tizard, Isiekwe, Earl, B Vunipola.
Replacements: Woolstencroft, Mawi, Judge, Hunter-Hill, Wray, De Haas, Taylor, Lewington.
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
English (US)