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La Rochelle quarter-final bound after second-half rout stuns Zebre
By Russell Greaves
La Rochelle stunned Zebre with an exceptional second-half showing to book their place in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup.
The Top 14 side were 12-6 down at the break but racked up 26 unanswered points after the interval to triumph 32-12.
La Rochelle can still be caught at the top of Pool 4 by Bristol Bears, who face Enisei-STM twice, but their 20 points would be enough to at least guarantee one of three best runners-up spots to make the last eight.
Dany Priso, Arthur Retiere, Levani Botia and Hikairo Forbes all touched down to wrap up the crucial bonus-point victory.
Last year's semi-finalists Pau are out after a 35-14 loss to Stade Francais saw them slump to the foot of Pool 2, while Bordeaux-Begles – winners over Sale Sharks last time out – downed Perpignan 34-27 in Pool 3 to maintain their slim hopes of making the last eight.
Finally, the Dragons thrashed Timisoara Saracens 59-3 in Pool 1 to leave the Romanians still without a point.
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Latest Comments
Australia definitely the game of the weekend. Wallabies by 3.
Go to commentsSmith is playing a different game with the rest of the backs struggling to understand. That's the problem with so called playmakers, if nobody gets what they're doing then it often just leads to a turnover. It gets worse when Borthwick changes one of them, which is why they don't score points at the end. Sometimes having a brilliant playmaker can be problematic if a team cannot be built around them. Once again Borthwick seems lacking in either coaching or selection. I can't help but think it's the latter coupled with pressure to select the big name players.
Lastly, his forward replacements are poor and exposed either lack of depth or selection pressure. Cole hemorrhages scrum penalties whenever he comes on, opponents take advantage of the England scrum and close out the game. Is that the best England can offer?
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