Billy Vunipola staggered away from Stade Marcel-Deflandre on crutches after suffering a knee injury during the first half of Saracens’ bruising Champions Cup exit on the Atlantic coast. The Premiership pacesetters exited the tournament on crutches. The champions’ crushing victory secured a home semi-final against Exeter in Bordeaux and the very real possibility of an all-French final in Dublin the following month.
La Rochelle’s colossal pack was unable to match the flair and color that helped Toulouse defeat the Sharks 24 hours earlier, but they are an unstoppable force in this form and have won 11 consecutive European matches at this stadium. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, the All Blacks scrum-half for La Rochelle, scored two tries to separate the teams. But in reality, Saracens were overmatched.
The European champions were brutal at the breakdown after struggling against Gloucester the week before.
Saracens, unruly and sloppy in their offensive motions, were not the Premiership’s best this year.
Given the noise, La Rochelle’s 75,000 residents seemed to have congregated at their fortress on a May afternoon. The encounter highlighted the widening gap between the elite Top 14 clubs and their English counterparts. Billy Vunipola’s season-ending knee injury symbolising the domestic and national game’s fortunes.
Saracens anticipated a tempest on the Bay of Biscay, and La Rochelle pinned them back in their half early on. With Antoine Hastoy kicking two penalties and hitting the upright with the third attempt.
The visitors weathered the early storm, but the sight of first Jamie George receiving treatment for a knee injury and then Billy Vunipola being carried off on a stretcher was a crushing blow for Saracens on a day when they needed every ounce of strength from their England international forwards.
Owen Farrell and Hastoy traded penalties, but La Rochelle’s pack battered through the Saracen’s defense with a series of drives that enabled Kerr-Barlow to dart over, eluding Alex Goode on a curved run to the line.
Levani Botia’s spectacular run before the hour handed Kerr-Barlow a second try, ending the game. Saracens replacement prop Eroni Mawi scored a try after a lineout surge by the pack. After Brice Dulin was penalised for high-tackling Alex Lewington, Ben Earl was stopped up just over the line.
Joy Neville’s TMO ruled out Yoan Tanga’s third try after a lineout knock-on. Botia was substituted by Tanga one hour into the match. “The Demolition Man” Botia, a Fijian back-rower, destroyed Saracens’ European hopes.
