Former player comes back to haunt Ronan O'Gara as La Rochelle fall to Castres

International call-ups and injuries forced Ronan O’Gara to ring the changes for La Rochelle. They had 15 players unavailable. 

Kerryman Ultan Dillane got a try for La Rochelle. Pic: XAVIER LEOTY / AFP via Getty Images

Former La Rochelle bit player Pierre Popelin came back to haunt Ronan O’Gara, scoring 14 points as bogey side Castres held tough to win 17-19 in front of another sell-out crowd at Stade Marcel Deflandre and end the Rochelais’ perfect home run this season.

International call-ups and injuries forced O’Gara to ring the changes for the return of the French men’s domestic top-flight at the back-end of the international window, as he juggled a squad with 15 players unavailable to face a side they have failed to win against at home in three outings.