Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle seem certain to be without the services of Dillyn Leyds for some time, after he left the pitch injured shortly after the hour-mark in their 23-18 Top 14 opening round defeat at Bordeaux.
“He broke quite a few teeth,” O’Gara said after Leyds was hurt in an aerial challenge with Damian Penaud in the 64th minute of the match at Stade Chaban Delmas. “I think he probably fractured his jaw. He could be out for a few months.”
The South African had earlier been denied a try in an intense and long-undecided encounter because of an obstruction by team-mate Jules Favre.
That moment, in the first quarter, was symptomatic of La Rochelle’s early indiscipline. O’Gara’s charges shipped 10 penalties in the first-half, and three more in the second, compared to seven for the home side – a figure spoiled by late yellow cards for winger Xan Mousques and Matis Perchaud.
La Rochelle, energised by the fizzing Nolann Le Garrec, were quickest out of the blocks and keen to show that they’re ready and able to play a more ambitious game. But it came at a clinical cost, as backrow Oscar Jegou acknowledged.
“We started off pretty strong, he said. “We wanted to put a lot of pressure on them, and we knocked-on a lot. Now, we need to work on the little details because, in the end, that cost us dearly.
“We also tried to play a little more, I think that was obvious, even though we messed up a lot. We’ll keep that in mind for the coming weeks. If we want to achieve something, we have to play.”
After having two first-half tries of their own chalked off, Bordeaux finally broke the touchdown deadlock through Louis Bielle-Biarrey – who else? – seven minutes into the second. It was pure Bordeaux: a delightful kick pass from Jalibert, a burst of acceleration, and Bielle-Biarrey was clear.
Favre made up for his earlier error of judgement minutes later, but Martin Page-Relo’s try, fed by Penaud, on the hour looked to have settled matters before the flurry of late yellows allowed the visitors to grab a losing bonus thanks to a try from Thomas Berjon and an Antoine Hastoy penalty on the hooter.
Like La Rochelle, Castres will rue their indiscipline and inability to turn pressure into points as they lost 15-17 at home to ambitious Pau. The hosts dominated possession, territory – and flair – but kept gifting Joe Simmonds kickable chances. The tries for Castres’ fullback Theo Chabouni and Top 14 debutant Colin Dupuy, on as a late replacement, may well make the highlight reels, but Simmonds’ four penalties and conversion of Jack Maddocks’ touchdown took the points.
That was one of three away wins on the first day of the new Top 14 season. Bayonne recorded their first victory at Perpignan since November 1970, the 19-26 scoreline condemning the Catalans to another opening-day defeat. They haven’t started a top-flight campaign on a positive note since 2013.
And Toulon comfortably beat Montpellier 17-27 at the newly renamed Septeo Stadium. But their celebrations were tempered by the early departure of debutant Lennox Anyanwu, who was stretchered off the pitch after being knocked unconscious just 40 seconds after kick off.
Earlier, Stade Francais had kicked off the French domestic top-flight season with a 47-24 win over a spirited Montauban, playing their first Top 14 match in 15 years.
Lyon ended the opening Saturday of the new Top 14 season at the top of the table, after running in four tries to beat new-look Racing 92 42-7. The visitors’ 17 penalties definitely didn’t help their cause.
Clermont host Toulouse on Sunday night in the final match of the opening weekend.