La Rochelle are in the midst of a red-hot battle with the Bristol Bears in their Investec Champions Cup pool two clash.
Currently leading their Premiership opponents 7 – 0, Ronan O’Gara’s side have been tetchy thus far. Getting stuck into a few off-the-ball incidents, La Rochelle doesn’t look like they are in the mood to take a backward step.
Bristol, to their credit, looks equally up to the fight and hasn’t given their hosts an inch thus far.
Breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute, the Top 14 side scored a truly spectacular try.
Starting with a dominant maul, La Rochelle sucked in several Bristol defenders through some lung-busting seconds. This effort opened up just enough space for scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow to break away to the left.
Immediately identifying that the space was on the other side, the former All Black reversed course with a looping pass to Iaih West, who launched a searching crossfield kick.
Bouncing once, the ball looked like it would trickle over the touchline before a flying Jack Nowell showed off his acrobatic skills to dot down.
The score would be heavily reviewed, with referee Chris Busby initially saying that his on-field decision was not a try.
Doing great work, the TMO found the perfect replay angles to award the former England winger the try and with it La Rochelle the lead.
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