'We lacked energy'- O'Gara's La Rochelle fulfil fixture but can't match Toulon

The La Rochelle manager had briefly threatened to keep his players at home this weekend.

Ronan O'Gara, head coach of Stade Rochelais  (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Perhaps Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle should have forfeited their rescheduled Top 14 trip to Toulon after all. Last Sunday, after their well-worked win over Racing 92, the manager had briefly threatened to keep his players at home this weekend to allow those not involved in the November tests a proper break.

“I’m going to ask the players when we get back to the locker room if we’re going [to Toulon] or if we’re taking a vacation,” O’Gara had said immediately after the win over Racing. “Lyon conceded [over] 50 at Mayol, Racing 45 — maybe it’s better to just accept the defeat and take two weeks off like the other teams. I’m going to sound out my players because it’s going to be a tough match.”