2,000 Munster fans had descended on La Rochelle under the sweet spring sun and witness Munster hang on for a 25-24 win over Stade Rochelais in the 2025 Investec Champions Cup Top 16.
O’Gara’s current side, Stade Rochelais, was the one to start the strongest in front of the sell-out Stade Marcel Deflandre. Tawera Kerr-Barlow thought he had crossed inside the first minute, but a forensic TMO adjudged him to have breached and gone into touch in the build-up.
The home side’s early domination continued, and it wasn’t long before Levani Botia bullied his way over to grab his first try of 2025.
Munster wanted one back, though, and the hundreds of Irish fans inside were soon out of their seats for five points of their own. Thaakir Abrahams made most of an Ihaia West yellow card to break free. It was his dizzying run that he then offloaded, setting up scrum-half Craig Casey. A fitting try for a pair both recently back from injury.
Scrum after scrum ensued, but it ended up being in overtime that the hosts finally found the difference. West duly converted for Stade Rochelais to send them into the dressing room ahead.
Back level within a minute of the restart thanks to a Jack Crowley penalty, Munster certainly started the second-half how they meant to go on.
Just six minutes later Gavin Coombes chased down a Stade Rochelais clearance to then hunt it down and ground, gifting Munster the lead for the first time in the tie.
This didn’t satisfy Clayton McMillan’s men, though, and wing Andrew Smith finished off a gritty move down the left to touch down and extend the Irish lead.
And that was ultimately a lead that hosts Stade Rochelais were unable to tumble, but not without a spectacular fight.
The hosts were awarded a penalty try 15 minutes from time, but Munster hit back via a spectacular Crowley drop goal to keep them within arms reach.
Hoani Bosmorin then charged onto a kick over the top to tap home which, together with Hastoy’s ensuing conversion, set up an enthralling final three minutes.
Just one point behind for the final stages, the hosts were ultimately left disappointed after a late penalty awarded to Munster in overtime ended any hopes of a comeback.
Scorers:
Stade Rochelais: Tries: Levani Botia, Penalty try, Hoani Bosmorin. Conversions: Ihaia West, Antoine Hastoy. Penalty: Ihaia West.
Munster Rugby: Tries: Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes, Andrew Smith. Conversions: Jack Crowley (2). Drop Goal: Jack Crowley. Penalty: Jack Crowley.
Teams:
Stade Rochelais: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Teddy Thomas, 12 UJ Seuteni, 11 Hoani Bosmorin, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Grégory Alldritt (c), 7 Oscar Jegou, 6 Levani Botia, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Thomas Lavault, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Pierre Bourgarit, 1 Reda Wardi. Replacements: 16 Quentin Lespiaucq, 17 Alexandre Kaddouri, 18 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 19 Ultan Dillane, 20 Judicael Cancoriet, 21 Matthias Haddad, 22 Antoine Hastoy, 23 Jules Favre.
Munster Rugby: 15 Thaakir Abrahams, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Sean O’Brien, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 Tadhg Beirne (c), 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Oli Jager, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Jeremy Loughman. Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Josh Wycherley, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 Tom Ahern, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Alex Kendellen.
