La Rochelle suffer rare home defeat

PARIS:

Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle suffered a rare home defeat on Saturday losing 44-24 to Lyon in the French Top 14 after an emotional week following Uini Atonio's retirement.

La Rochelle conceded five tries as they were beaten at Stade Marcel Deflandre for just a third time this season, leaving them in 10th place in the table and six points from the play-offs.

Lyon stay in 12th spot thanks to an explosive first half in emotionally charged scenes on the Atlantic coast.

"We started the game too late to have a hope of winning," O'Gara told reporters.

"We're far from the top six now. We have to accept where we are. That's why it hurt today.

"Am I perfect? Far from it, did I have a poor game? I think so."

Former Ireland fly-half O'Gara was brought to tears on Friday in his pre-match press conference due to Atonio's announcement and that atmosphere continued to the game.

After just three minutes, the sold-out crowd of 18,000 rose to their feet to pay tribute to highly popular former France prop Atonio who was forced to end his career on Wednesday after a heart attack.

It got the better of the hosts who trailed 31-7 at the break.

By the hour mark La Rochelle were back in the game and there were just seven points between the sides as former England winger Jack Nowell crossed to make it 31-24.

However, Martin Meliande slotted two penalties and Fiji winger Jiuta Wainiqolo strolled over in the final 16 minutes to secure Lyon's first win since January 3.

Elsewhere, on a weekend without 28 France squad members who are absent as they prepare for Thursday's Six Nations opener against Ireland, Scottish duo Ali Price and Stuart Hogg crossed as Montpellier hammered Stade Francais 44-7.

Ireland fly-half Joey Carbery kicked 11 points as Bordeaux-Begles won 31-16 at lowly Montauban as the Champions Cup winners moved up to third despite axed France winger Damian Penaud suffering a head injury.

Carbery, 30, is ineligible to feature for his country as he plays his club rugby abroad, but he has been heavily linked with a return back to Ireland for next season.

League leaders Toulouse, missing 12 players including Antoine Dupont due to their Six Nations commitments, stretched their advantage at the summit to 11 points by thumping Bayonne 31-10.

On Sunday second-placed Pau welcome Toulon in sixth with just four points between the teams.