Newly promoted Biarritz had a bizarre ending to their Top14 clash with La Rochelle last weekend.
On the latest episode of Le French Rugby Podcast, former Scotland international and Castres backrow Johnny Beattie discusses the bizarre ending to the game. Beattie explained that in the 3rd minute of injury time (past 80 minutes), Biarritz had an attacking line-out on the La Rochelle 5 metre line. At the time, Biarritz were 20-24 down to the visitors.
As the ball is thrown into the line-out, a second ball appears on the pitch. Following a maul that lasted for a few seconds, substitute hooker for Biarritz, Francois Da Ros broke away dotting the ball down in the corner for a Biarritz score. This score would have definitely won Biarritz the game. However, at the same time as Da Ros touches the ball down, former all black and scrum half for La Rochelle, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, he comes away with the second ball.
At this point, the referee had to go to the TMO, and the result was that the try would not stand. Biarritz were given the line-out again and second row Josh Tyrell scored in the corner for Biarritz to seal the win. This is undoubtedly a big win for Biarritz against Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle who were finalists in the Champions Cup last year. Although Biarritz are at this stage currently in a relegation battle, they have now surpassed 3 time European champions and giants Toulon in the league table.
Podcast host Tim Groves asked Beattie “what on earth happened at the end of Biarritz – La Rochelle?” to which Beattie said the ending was “amazing”.
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