Stormers' latest clash in the Investec Champions Cup has sparked outrage from La Rochelle's camp, with head coach Ronan O'Gara and his team vocal about the absurdity of the travel demands imposed by the tournament's schedule. The French side, after a grueling match against Leicester Tigers, is now expected to shuttle back and forth between continents, battling not only opponents but also shifting climates and exhaustive journeys.
La Rochelle's discontent stems from the logistical nightmare of traveling from South Africa back to France right before a series of crucial Top 14 matches against Bayonne, Toulouse, and Toulon. The team's center, Jules Favre, expressed his frustration in his L’Equipe column, noting the physical toll of such trips. "You leave on Sunday after the match, you still have a lot of aches and pains, you spend a day travelling on the plane, in airports, on buses, and you don’t train where you usually train," he lamented.
"I don’t know who’s organising this, but there are questions to be asked, especially about the players’ health,"
Romain Carmignani, La Rochelle coach, told Rugbyrama. His sharp criticism highlighted the extreme weather changes and the potential health risks for players, describing the situation as "truly ridiculous and stupid!"
Adding insult to injury, the Stormers' game location was moved nearly 800km away from Cape Town to Gqeberha, complicating La Rochelle's travel plans further. The French squad had to endure additional flights within South Africa, landing first in Johannesburg before heading to their final destination.
The Stormers, on the other hand, enjoyed the advantage of playing at home, having returned from their own European excursion where they triumphed over Bayonne. The South African team looks forward to more home games during the festive season, contrasting sharply with La Rochelle's hectic schedule.
La Rochelle's captain Gregory Alldritt, who is sidelined for the upcoming match, previously voiced his concerns to Midi Olympique. "We have to live up to our status. We’re playing the Stormers, who we can’t even play in Cape Town, it makes for a ridiculous journey," he stated, reflecting on the broader implications for the team's performance and morale.
Despite the challenges, Alldritt tried to find a silver lining for the younger players, "It’s going to be a great week in the sun. We have to try to find some momentum and play this match where we clearly have nothing to lose." Whether this optimism will hold up against the harsh realities of their schedule remains to be seen.
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Stormers' latest clash in the Investec Champions Cup has sparked outrage from La Rochelle's camp, with head coach Ronan O'Gara and his team vocal about the absurdity of the travel demands imposed by the tournament's schedule. The French side, after a grueling match against Leicester Tigers, is now expected to shuttle back and forth between continents, battling not only opponents but also shifting climates and exhaustive journeys.
La Rochelle's discontent stems from the logistical nightmare of traveling from South Africa back to France right before a series of crucial Top 14 matches against Bayonne, Toulouse, and Toulon. The team's center, Jules Favre, expressed his frustration in his L’Equipe column, noting the physical toll of such trips. "You leave on Sunday after the match, you still have a lot of aches and pains, you spend a day travelling on the plane, in airports, on buses, and you don’t train where you usually train," he lamented.
"I don’t know who’s organising this, but there are questions to be asked, especially about the players’ health,"
Romain Carmignani, La Rochelle coach, told Rugbyrama. His sharp criticism highlighted the extreme weather changes and the potential health risks for players, describing the situation as "truly ridiculous and stupid!"Adding insult to injury, the Stormers' game location was moved nearly 800km away from Cape Town to Gqeberha, complicating La Rochelle's travel plans further. The French squad had to endure additional flights within South Africa, landing first in Johannesburg before heading to their final destination.
The Stormers, on the other hand, enjoyed the advantage of playing at home, having returned from their own European excursion where they triumphed over Bayonne. The South African team looks forward to more home games during the festive season, contrasting sharply with La Rochelle's hectic schedule.
La Rochelle's captain Gregory Alldritt, who is sidelined for the upcoming match, previously voiced his concerns to Midi Olympique. "We have to live up to our status. We’re playing the Stormers, who we can’t even play in Cape Town, it makes for a ridiculous journey," he stated, reflecting on the broader implications for the team's performance and morale.
Despite the challenges, Alldritt tried to find a silver lining for the younger players, "It’s going to be a great week in the sun. We have to try to find some momentum and play this match where we clearly have nothing to lose." Whether this optimism will hold up against the harsh realities of their schedule remains to be seen.