O'Gara gets giant boost from returning Alldritt as La Rochelle roast Toulouse

Top 14 round-up: After three-straight defeats, Corkman's side head into New Year on a high but third red card in recent weeks spoils comprehensive win

BOUNCING BACK: La Rochelle's Irish coach Ronan O'Gara is seen ahead of the French Top14 rugby union match between Stade Rochelais (La Rochelle) and Stade Toulousain Rugby (Toulouse) at The Marcel-Deflandre Stadium in La Rochelle, western France on December 30, 2023. Pic: XAVIER LEOTY / AFP

Gregory Alldritt made an early return from his extended post-World Cup sabbatical as Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle beat a heavily rotated Toulouse 29-8 in a long-awaited rerun of last season’s Top 14 final.

But a second-half red for Thomas Lavault – La Rochelle’s third red in recent weeks – for a dangerous clear-out leaves O’Gara with more selection issues as the defending champions head into the second block of Champions Cup matches.