Top 14: La Rochelle rebound against Pau but flaws remain

Jack Nowell scored his first try in his 20th outing for the Rochelais 

La Rochelle's English wing Jack Nowell (CR) is congratulated by La Rochelle's New Zealand fly-half Ihaia West (CL) after scoring La Rochelle's first try during the French Top14 rugby union match between Stade Rochelais (La Rochelle) and Section Paloise Bearn Pyrenees (Pau) at The Marcel-Deflandre Stadium in La Rochelle, western France on May 18, 2024. (Photo by XAVIER LEOTY/AFP via Getty Images)

Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle worked their way to a 25-23 win over Pau at Stade Marcel Deflandre on a decisive day in France’s Top 14, that saw Oyonnax officially relegated and Montpellier condemned to a survival play-off at the home of the losing ProD2 finalists next month.

Jack Nowell scored his first try in this 20th outing for the Rochelais in the first half, while a penalty try just before the hour and a Jules Favre try in the 72nd minute sealed the win as they set out to consolidate their top six place and prove that last week’s abject performance against a rampant Bordeaux was an anomaly.