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Thursday
14:00
TOP 14La Rochelle

The game of the Top 14 weekend between 1st and 3rd has been called off

(Photo by Sebastien Salom-Gomis/AFP via Getty Images)

This Saturday’s scheduled Top 14 match between La Rochelle and Racing in Paris has become the latest game in the French league to fall victim to the pandemic. The match between first and third was set to be the game of the weekend. However, a press release on Friday has confirmed the fixtures will not be going ahead as planned at the La Defence Arena.  

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The La Rochelle statement read: “Following the detection of a positive case for Covid-19 within the workforce and the manifestation of doubtful symptoms in two players who tested negative, it was decided jointly with the LNR to retest the entire professional team this morning (Friday). 

“Pending the results, the whole squad will be placed in isolation and the team will therefore not be able to travel today for tomorrow’s game. The LNR will decide on the management of the organisation of this fixture during the day.”

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As it stands, it is not impossible that the game will be postponed to Sunday, or even Monday provided that the results of the new tests passed by the La Rochelle players are negative.

Both clubs are due to play Heineken Champions Cup fixtures on Sunday week. La Rochelle are due to travel to Bath while Racing will host Harlequins in Paris. 

La Rochelle’s December fixture against the Premiership club was cancelled due to an outbreak at the English club. That resulted in the French side, coached by Ronan O’Gara, being awarded all five match points as Bath were deemed at fault for the call off. 

La Rochelle, who won their other European game with a 13-8 win at Edinburgh, currently lead the way in the Top 14, sitting three points clear of Racing with Toulouse sandwiched between them in second place. They defeated Racing 9-6 when the teams met in November at Stade Marcel Deflandre. 

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SadersMan 42 minutes ago
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Meat market what else is new?

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J
JS 1 hour ago
Men's 15s World Player of the Year was only a two horse race

All 4 nominations should have been Boks.Being real now,sorry.Next year maybe all the other teams will maybe preduce real stars.

41 Go to comments
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SC 1 hour ago
Three former All Blacks crown their players of the year

In 2025, Tupou Vaa'i could be the All Blacks answer to PSDT at blindside flanker. He has the height, weight, athleticism to play 6 at the highest level of test rugby.

2 Go to comments
M
Mark 1 hour ago
Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick deserves the benefit of the doubt at this juncture. Just.'

Much of the blame for Englands current malaise must lie at the door of the RFU, Borthwicks Appointment was almost a knee jerk reaction after jones departure.

Borthwicks CV re international coaching was virtually non existent, that issue was compounded by having wigglesworth and sinfield as his lieutenants, neither of whom had coached at international level.

Its really not rocket science.

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Toaster 1 hour ago
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I’d be delighted if Marcus moves to fullback 😉

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SadersMan 1 hour ago
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NPC is his level. Super Rugby is NOT. Crusaders fans are thinking fans. Try it bud. Or find another team to support.

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Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Men's 15s World Player of the Year was only a two horse race

Much like you, Turlough, shouldn’t be dishonest and pretend to be a milder twat called RW 🤥

41 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Men's 15s World Player of the Year was only a two horse race

Turlough, it’s you isn’t it?

41 Go to comments
O
OJohn 1 hour ago
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Traitor

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SadersMan 1 hour ago
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The backline was the issue for me. Replacing Smith/Mounga, will take time. Roigard, Ratima, Hotham, all look good. DMac finally nailed proper game mgmt on tour. High quality cameo v ENG, & as injury starter v IRE for the full 80. This may have aided his 10 spot in the WR Dream Team. Food for thought going forward.


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I didn't care about the ABs performance v ITA tbh. I expected a 20pt win, & mostly got it. The game played out as expected. Wet, slippery, zero degrees, a smaller soccer field, a fired up Azzurri who'd had a great 6N 2024, immense home crowd, sheesh, some of the score predictions were nuts. I'm glad Razor stayed with the tried & true & didn't put up a "B" team. Take the win, come home.

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OJohn 1 hour ago
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OJohn 1 hour ago
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13 Go to comments
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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Seven Springboks make World Rugby men’s 15s dream team of the year

Considering that Wiese has played for Leicester since 2020 (previously the Cheetahs), there wouldn't be that many opportunities at club level for Wiese to play against Doris.


Interestingly, though, in an article written about their match in April this year (which Leinster won) Wiese received special mention:


Leicester's eigthman was present from the beginning to the end and locked in at all break down points. With the most carries in the game (18) Wiese gained 53 metres along with one line break and 3 passes. 

Google SAFFER BRUISES BULLDOZE IRSIH NO.8 - and you'll find that Doris has regularly been outplayed by South African players I would pick ahead of Doris 9 days out of 10.


And as captain of Ireland he has overseen the worst year of performances in 6 years.

27 Go to comments
f
fl 2 hours ago
'England actually looked better with Fin Smith at 10'

Ford is still easily the best option at 10, but if we have to go for someone called Smith, it needs to be Fin.

2 Go to comments
R
Rob 2 hours ago
Seven Springboks make World Rugby men’s 15s dream team of the year

Wiese has never outplayed Doris at club or international level, fairly sure he's also never won a game against him in either....

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BC 2 hours ago
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Extremely long shot. The best they will do is the semi-finals.

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BC 2 hours ago
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I was at the 6N match against Ireland at Twickenham. The roar of anticipation every time Ellie got the ball was amazing.


Surprised at some of the "dream team", who would not get into a Red Roses squad.

2 Go to comments
T
Tantor 2 hours ago
Men's 15s World Player of the Year was only a two horse race

Selectively quoting rugby stats to support a cultural bias sets the author up for justified questioning of motive, let alone his significant lack of understanding for what a player brings to a team that makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts. Click baiting probably, either way it's shallow, I expect better here.

41 Go to comments
R
RedWarrior 2 hours ago
Men's 15s World Player of the Year was only a two horse race

The Afrikaaner Claret extracted in Durban was vintage Double Dutch.

41 Go to comments
P
PB 2 hours ago
Men's 15s World Player of the Year was only a two horse race

Beat up? Do you even understand the concept! Beat up would be when a boere nooi gives you a poes klap

41 Go to comments
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