Top 14: 'We're in a negative cycle,' says O'Gara after La Rochelle ship eight tries

Ronan O’Gara's side slipped outside the playoff places after a heavy defeat on the road to Lyon.

Lyon's New Zealand centre Josiah Maraku is challenged by La Rochelle's French lock Lucas Andjisseramatchi during the French Top14 clash Photo by JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK/AFP via Getty Images

Twenty days after losing 45-26 at Toulon Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle fell to a second big Top 14 defeat on the road, shipping eight tries in a 53-17 loss at Lyon to drop out of the play-off places.

O’Gara has repeatedly insisted form matters most at the business end of a campaign. But, time is running out. With 10 matches left in the domestic season, O’Gara’s side – shorn of several players because of Six Nations call-ups and injury – are seventh in the table, closer in league-point terms to 13th-place Racing 92 than third-place Toulon.