Thursday 3 August 2017 14:22, UK
La Rochelle are the Leicester City of the Top 14 - they have finished ninth the last two years, were written off at the start of this season but have torn the form books up and just keep on winning.
Like most French sides they have a big squad and like to rotate - they may not have the superstars of some of the other Top 14 clubs but they have a good honest squad who seems to really want to play for each other.
Jason Eaton and Victor Vito have also stood out for me - two gnarly Kiwis who would have been saying to the rest of the team that they should be winning every game. That is unheard of in France where it seems that you have to lose your away games - or at least the majority of them! Eaton in the second row has been phenomenal for them and really led from the front.
They are on a run of 12 unbeaten games and on Friday night I just can't see it being unlucky 13 for them. In the last couple of games they have beaten Racing 92 away, Toulouse away and Toulon
On Friday look out for Levia Botia on the flank, who is just phenomenal - he usually plays centre and has plenty of pace. Also in the back row is Kevin Gourdon, who is in the French set-up and also has a real turn of pace.
Brock James is on the bench and I will say that he has been the best signing in the Top 14. After his time at Clermont I think a lot of people expected him to go to La Rochelle for his pension and take it easy. He's certainly not done that and like Eaton and Vito, he has marshalled the players around him, kicked his goals and been the outstanding for them. He has been one of the main reasons why they have been so successful.
There is no Ricky Januarie at scrum-half, who is having a hard earned rest, but this young kid Arthur Retiere is also one to watch. He is lightning around the pitch. Pierre Aguillon in the centre is not the biggest of guys - they don't have really big backs - but they all punch well above their weight.
It is going to take a heck of a effort from Edinburgh - they don't have anything to play for so should really be targeting this game. I really think that they are one game from oblivion, so this is a chance of redemption for them.
Stranger things have happened but I just don't see La Rochelle losing at Murrayfield on Friday night. Their story this season has really been brilliant and I really think they can go all they way in both tournaments - win the Top 14 and the Challenge Cup.
