Reigning champions La Rochelle managed to edge their way into the quarter-finals of the Investec Champions Cup after Stormers player, Manie Libbok devastatingly missed a last-minute conversion resulting in a tight 22-21 win for the away side. This precarious win secures a spot for Ronan O’Gara’s team in Dublin next weekend, providing they can overcome Leinster in the quarter-finals, and Leinster manages to beat Leicester in the Round of 16 playoffs at Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Scoring 11 points, Libbok had the golden opportunity to send the defending champions packing after a late try from Suleiman Hartzenberg at 79 minutes. However, he narrowly missed his conversion chance. Libbok, the South African international, contributed to the Stormers’ initial superior positioning with two successful penalties, and further solidified their stance with the aid of Herschel Jantjies’ first try during Will Skelton’s yellow card period. Libbok’s additions were invaluable.
Adding another penalty 10 minutes into the second half, they secured a comfortable lead at 15-0. But the tide turned in favour of O’Gara’s side when Louis Penverne and Antoine Hastoy brought back La Rochelle into the game with a swift counter-attack. After the lead was snatched back by the French team through Gregory Alldritt’s converted try and Joel Sclavi’s touchdown, a thrilling end saw La Rochelle narrowly passing through to the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Bulls charged into the last eight with an emphatic nine-try victory after trampling over Lyon with a 59-19 scoreline. Bulls made early gains with tries from Sebastian de Klerk, Embrose Papier and Marcell Coetzee, all of which, were multiplied by Johan Goosen’s successful conversions.
Lyon’s efforts to retaliate came at the halfway mark by Martin Page-Relo’s addition and Paddy Jackson’s conversion, but their hopes were further crushed when Ruan Vermaak added another converted try for the Bulls three minutes later resulting in a 28-7 scoreline leading into half-time.
Although a penalty try at the start of the second half breathed some life into Lyon and saw Bulls’ Canan Moodie sin-binned, Bulls responded quickly with further tries from Willie le Roux and Papier. Despite Goosen only able to convert Papier’s touchdown followed by Thaakir Abraham’s crossing for Lyon, the Bulls took an unassailable lead as David Kriel and Chris Smith both scored within minutes of each other. With de Klerk’s double on the afternoon three minutes from the end, Bulls secured their quarterfinals seat.
“If they manage to succeed in their Round of 16 contest at Franklin’s Gardens this Sunday, Munster will be heading to South Africa. There, they’ll face the Bulls in the quarter-finals, according to the outcomes.”