Is La Rochelle Vulnerable? A Deep Dive into the Top 14 Season
By Archyde News
Published: April 4, 2025
La rochelle’s Dip in Form: A Cause for Concern?
La Rochelle, the French rugby powerhouse, finds itself in an unfamiliar position this season. Currently sitting 10th in the Top 14 after 20 games, with eight wins, one draw, and 11 losses, they are a far cry from their usual dominant selves. This situation prompts a critical question: is this the most opportune moment to face them at their home ground, the stade Marcel Deflandre?
To understand the meaning of this dip, consider the context. In 2024, at the same stage of the competition, La Rochelle held a comfortable fifth position with 10 victories. Moreover, during the era of coach Ronan O’Gara, their previous low point occurred in 2022 when they were sixth after round 20. This marks the first instance where they find themselves outside the playoff qualification zone so late in the season.
for U.S. sports fans, imagine if the New England Patriots, after years of Super Bowl contention, suddenly found themselves struggling to make the playoffs. The shock and scrutiny would be immense. Similarly, La Rochelle’s current predicament has sparked intense speculation and analysis within the rugby world.
“Given their pedigree, there arguably is never a good time to play La Rochelle,” but their current form raises serious questions.
Analyzing the Root Causes: Attack vs. Defense
While some attribute La Rochelle’s struggles to a shift in playing style, aiming for a more expansive, ball-in-hand approach rather than relying solely on their renowned defense, the statistics paint a more complex picture. The data indicates that the defensive aspect of their game is where the most significant issues lie.
Last year, La Rochelle topped the charts in average possession with 52.7%. This season, their figure remains relatively consistent at 51.4%.Notably, in their two prior european Cup final triumphs over Leinster, they out-carried their opponents significantly, with 138 carries to 72 and 144 to 76, respectively. This demonstrates La Rochelle’s historical willingness to play an attacking style.
However, the overall offensive output displays a clear decline. Their league ranking for total points scored has plummeted from 10th at the end of the 2024 season to a dismal 13th this year. Despite this overall decrease, they’ve shown improvement in some underlying metrics: meters made (10th vs. 12th), gainline breaks (8th vs. 9th), and broken tackles (8th vs.12th).This suggests a breakdown in attacking efficiency.In their nine games since the start of the year, they’ve only once achieved the benchmark of three points per 22-meter entry, which is generally considered the target for a strong offensive showing.
The defensive numbers are even more concerning. In the 2024 Top 14 season, La Rochelle conceded the fewest points (494). This year, with six rounds still remaining, they’ve already surpassed that total, allowing 503 points. Their defense, formerly the league’s best, now ranks eighth in points conceded. This decline is reminiscent of a once-dominant NFL defense suddenly struggling to stop opponents from scoring.
O’Gara’s Viewpoint: Injuries and International Absences
Coach Ronan O’Gara acknowledges the issues, stating, “Sometimes data becomes complicated but it’s as simple as that. Fixing it isn’t as simple as you think. If it was it would be fixed by now! We’re leaking too many points is the crux of it.”
He offers a potential explanation for the defensive woes. “You’re without internationals and you’ve a lot of injured players, so your squad is diluted,” he explains. “Some people know they’re playing every week.Once you have players who know that, it’s not really a good thing for competitiveness in your group.”
Several key players have been sidelined for significant periods. Jonathan Danty has only played twice for La Rochelle in 2025. Gregory Alldritt, fresh off impressive performances in the Six Nations Championship, has only featured three times for O’Gara since the year began. Scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow has been absent since Feb. 22, Levani botia missed the entire month of February, and Will Skelton has played just three times since Christmas.
While these players are on the older side of 30, their effectiveness when playing remains undeniable. According to Opta, Danty’s dominant carry rate (60% vs. 56.7%) surpasses that of Munster’s Alex Nankivell. Botia, renowned for his ability to win turnovers, has been effective at the same proportion of defensive breakdowns as Jack Willis (22.7%), widely regarded as one of the best in the world. Notably Willis has played three times the amount of minutes compared to Botia.
This challenges the narrative that La Rochelle is overly reliant on an aging core, but the absences raise questions about whether the team’s struggles are simply due to wear and tear.
Looking ahead: Recruitment and youthful Injection
O’Gara is optimistic about the future, pointing to upcoming recruitment as an opportunity for regeneration. Scrum-half Nolann le Garrec and Georgian fullback Davit Niniashvili are expected to join the team. In addition, young players like Oscar Jegou (21) and Paul Boudehent (25) have already made an impact, impressing in the Six Nations. Jegou has played in five of La rochelle’s last nine games, and Boudehent in four, although he is currently sidelined with an injury.
The challenge for O’Gara will be to integrate these new players effectively while maintaining the team’s identity and competitiveness. This is a challenge faced by coaches in all sports, from college football to the NFL. Teams must constantly evolve to stay ahead of the competition, and La Rochelle is no exception.
Fresh Insights and Analysis
Beyond the injuries and tactical shifts, there’s a psychological element at play. Sustained success can sometimes lead to complacency. perhaps La Rochelle needs a renewed sense of hunger and urgency to rediscover their championship form.
Consider the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA. After years of dominance, they experienced a period of transition. They needed to rebuild and rediscover their identity. La Rochelle might potentially be facing a similar challenge.
Furthermore, the Top 14 is an incredibly competitive league. Other teams have improved, analyzed La Rochelle’s weaknesses, and developed strategies to exploit them. la Rochelle needs to adapt and innovate to stay ahead.
addressing Potential Counterarguments
Some may argue that La Rochelle’s current struggles are merely a temporary blip. they have the talent and experience to turn things around quickly. however, the statistics and the extended period of underperformance suggest that the issues are more deep-seated.
Others might point to the success of other teams with aging cores. however, those teams often have remarkable leadership, coaching, and a constant influx of young talent. La Rochelle needs to address all these areas to regain their former glory.
Conclusion: A Test of Character
Statistically speaking, this may be the best time to play La rochelle since Ronan O’Gara took the helm in 2019. Though, dismissing them would be a mistake. The prospect of defying the odds and rescuing their season makes their upcoming matches all the more intriguing. The team’s character will be tested, and their response will determine whether they can reclaim their place among Europe’s elite rugby teams.
For American sports fans, think of this as a team facing a major rebuilding year – the key is how they respond to the adversity and set themselves up for future success.
