La Rochelle produced a superb display to keep their Champions Cup hopes alive following a dominant 37-24 victory over Sale Sharks.
After losing their opening two matches, La Rochelle have responded with successive wins to take them into the round-of-16 with the latest coming in Greater Manchester.
They controlled proceedings from start to finish and touched down four times through Dillyn Leyds, Antoine Hastoy, Tawera Kerr-Barlow and UJ Seuteni.
Hastoy was also impressive off the tee, kicking three conversions and as many penalties, but it was new skipper, Gregory Alldritt, that won the man of the match award.
was absolutely everywhere and was superb on both sides of the ball as progressed into the knockout stages.
However, the visitors were helped by a side that have struggled recently. They produced another underwhelming display as a series of errors prevented from putting any pressure on the Frenchmen.
Sale did go over via Tom Roebuck, Agustin Creevy, Sam Dugdale and Telusa Veainu in the second period, but they were once again well below par.
La Rochelle knew a defeat would end their chances of retaining the title they won in 2022 and 2023, but they weren’t in the mood to let that happen.
Ronan O’Gara’s men were utterly outstanding against a Sale side that continue to disappoint.
Despite a positive start from the hosts, who put together a magnificent move which almost ended in new England call-up Roebuck going over, the French outfit dominated.
They had the wind in the first half but they made use of it when Leyds went over in the eight minute.
The Sharks were trying to play from everywhere and the pressure La Rochelle exerted led to a mistake as Rob du Preez was charged down, resulting in the score.
Sale were struggling in the conditions while their discipline was also letting them down.
Although they did well to keep their tryline intact, Hastoy still managed to kick three penalties to take La Rochelle 16-0 in front at the break.
It was not necessarily the worst outcome for the Greater Manchester outfit, who had the wind in their favour after the interval, but that was when the visitors’ class came to the fore.
La Rochelle were utterly magnificent, putting together a couple of tries out of the top drawer.
The first was very much the Frenchmen at their best as it started with a brilliant turnover from Levani Botia close to his own line.
They turned defence into attack in a flash as they shifted the ball wide to Seuteni.
The centre broke the line and found Hastoy, who scampered across the whitewash unopposed.
It was to get better for the defending champions when another fine move released Quentin Lespiaucq. The hooker was brought down just short of the line but Kerr-Barlow was on hand to finish it off.
That was effectively game over, even if Sale showed some resistance to get four late tries. They were helped by La Rochelle’s ill-discipline, who saw Hastoy and Brice Dulin yellow carded, and the hosts took advantage through Roebuck and Creevy.
However, the Sharks needed more than that and, with them chancing their arm, George Ford’s pass was intercepted and finished off by Seuteni.
Following that score, the visitors’ intensity dropped and Sale benefited by earning a try bonus-point when Dugdale and Veainu touched down, but they will have to make do with a place in the Challenge Cup last-16.
Sale Sharks: 15 Sam James, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Rob du Preez, 12 Sam Bedlow, 11 Arron Reed, 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Josh Beaumont, 7 Ben Curry (c), 6 Sam Dugdale, 5 Jonny Hill, 4 Ben Bamber, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Tumy Onasanya
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 18 James Harper, 19 Tom Ellis, 20 Dan du Preez, 21 Nye Thomas, 22 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 23 Telusa Veainu
La Rochelle: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 UJ Seuteni, 12 Yoan Tanga, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Antoine Hastoy, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Gregory Alldritt (c), 7 Levani Botia, 6 Paul Boudehent, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Quentin Lespiaucq, 1 Reda Wardi
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Joel Sclavi, 18 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 19 Thomas Lavault, 20 Judicael Cancoriet, 21 Thomas Berjon, 22 Hugo Reus 23 Jack Nowell
Referee: Chris Busby (Ire)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Cole (Ire), Joy Neville (Ire)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ire)
