Kerr-Barlow: 'I'd say it's a pretty extraordinary pathway to take'
Tawera Kerr-Barlow was running a half-hour late last Thursday for his Zoom appointment – but with very good reason. Before La Rochelle could fully focus on next weekend’s Heineken Champions Cup final in Ireland, there was a Saturday afternoon Top 14 clash away to French league champions Montpellier to take care of and that meant putting in some additional hard yards on the training ground.
This dedication to the cause was an indication of the unity that exists at the Ronan O’Gara-led club. With just five players – including the pioneering hybrid Levani Botia – from the matchday 23 that eclipsed Exeter in the European semi-finals a fortnight ago in Bordeaux named for the GGL Stadium assignment, front-liners such as Kerr-Barlow could have understandably not bought into the exercise of getting an understrength XV ready.
La Rochelle after all were going into that match comfortably placed in second on the table, 10 points clear of the inconsistent Stade Francais and a semi-final berth within reach with just two rounds of fixtures remaining. However, their attitude was that they still needed to prepare well for their Montpellier trip even though their cup final clash with Leinster was the top priority [they lost 31-42, fighting back from being 10-35 behind early in the second half].
“We just wanted to prepare the lads well,” explained Kerr-Barlow, apologising for his delayed arrival for an interview where the emphasis was on La Rochelle’s prospects of becoming back-to-back Champions Cup champions and joining an exclusive club featuring only Leicester, Leinster, Toulon, Saracens.
A scorer of five tries in his seven European appearances this term, Kerr-Barlow was a reason why Leinster were heavily tipped last year to win the decider in Marseille. The effervescent scrum-half fractured his left hand in the semi-final victory over Racing and not even O’Gara checking out the use of a hurling glove from Ireland could get the wounded World Cup winner back into the selection mix.
He missed out but his absence wasn’t detrimental as La Rochelle still took the trophy with a late, late show. “I was able to help the team in a different manner. It wasn’t on the field but with the preparation, myself, Victor (Vito) and other lads who didn’t play, I was extremely happy for everyone at the club,” enthused Kerr-Barlow, dismissing his individual disappointment at missing out. “I wasn’t on the field, but it almost felt like I was. The sensation was awesome and hopefully no injuries in training and hopefully I can be available for this final.”
The expectation is that a familiar Kiwi face, Jamison Gibson-Park, will be his opposite number at the Aviva. The style of rugby in France is for teams to play more off their nine and it’s an approach Kerr-Barlow has seen in Leinster given the increased play-making influence Gibson-Park now wields compared to a few years ago.
“Jamison is a great player. I’m not sure if we crossed paths in high school, he played for Gisborne Boys but I played a lot against him in New Zealand (as a pro). He is a quality nine and he can run the socks off almost anyone and he has been doing a fabulous job for Leinster. It looks like he is a big part of how they play and the tempo and his ability to speed the game up. Definitely, I would say he is a big factor for them.
“We have had a couple of ups and downs during the year. It’s a long season and we have been under no illusions (as defending champions) that every time a team plays us, they are really trying to put their best foot forward and make a statement. But pressure is a privilege and you have to work hard to get to the final so we try to embrace the pressure but to be fair, Leinster are such a top side and we are going into this game knowing it is anyone’s game.”
La Rochelle versus Leinster has turned into quite the appetising rivalry. Twice they have clashed in the European knockouts and twice the French club has taken the bragging rights, winning a 2021 semi-final in their Stade Marcel-Deflandre backyard and, of course, succeeding in last year’s final at the Velodrome. Now comes part three in the sequel – a renewal in Dublin that very much alters the dynamics that existed in the rivals’ previous rendezvous.
“Generally, they are one of the best sides in Europe and fortunately, we have been able to have the privilege of playing in the finals the last couple of years. You definitely want to play against the best and Leinster are definitely one of the best, so it is going to be a great occasion.
“The game is made up of moments and if you are able to take advantage or win more of the moments than your opposition, you are likely to put your best foot forward and win. Potentially we maybe just won one more moment,” he reckoned regarding La Rochelle’s 2-0 lead in the head-to-head.
“These games are so tight, the teams are so good and we were fortunate to get over the line the last couple of times, but Leinster are in extremely great form at the moment. They have ripped through the competition, and we are under no illusions that we are coming up against a quality side.
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“No match is ever the same and that is the beauty about rugby – how you adapt and try and win those big moments. There is definitely a temperament you have to have to play well in finals. Often it is not the team that has more talent, it is the team that has the best temperament and is able to stay calm and play the best rugby.
“We are fortunate to be able to play in a couple of finals and gain some experience but also when you turn around and look at Leinster they are chock-full of quality international players and they have just come off the Grand Slam in the Six Nations (with Ireland), so both teams have got a bit of experience and Leinster will be in a good place with all the cattle they have over there.”
The colour and the dynamism of the La Rochelle fans have become a heart-gladdening aspect of Champions Cup rugby in the post-pandemic era and Kerr-Barlow can’t wait to see the jamboree go on tour next week to Ireland after the inspiring backing they received for their semi-final win over Exeter. “The support was enormous and why I think we have got the best fans in Europe – that is obviously going to be disputed by other players and clubs, but it was an enormous occasion.
“We were happy to win that game, but we let ourselves down in areas allowing tries, we probably should have been better in a few moments. As you well know, big games are made up of moments. We were very happy to be in the final again against what is an extremely good Leinster side. I don’t know how much support we are going to have but I’m sure what support we do have, they will be singing their hearts out.”
Kerr-Barlow’s ‘let ourselves down’ remark very much piqued the interest. The seven-try La Rochelle were always going to be winners that boiling Bordeaux day, blitzing Exeter for a 26-7 half-time lead before getting the job finished with a 47-28 scoreline. So why the dissatisfaction?
Your @TISSOT Try of the Round Semi-final winner…
A tasty team try from @staderochelais, finished by Tawera Kerr-Barlow ?#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/ToHdWbJPP2
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) May 3, 2023
“I thought we could have shown better application, been a bit more ruthless, especially towards the end of the match, but you can’t take away from Exeter, they are a quality team with quality players, and they were able to take advantages of a couple of situations there.”
That La Rochelle were upset by a couple of late consolation scores says much about their impeccably high standards, a tone set by O’Gara, the Irishman who initially joined under Jono Gibbes in 2019 before taking over the whole shooting match two seasons later – a position he is now contracted to until 2027. Being an ex-All Black with a penchant for excellence himself, Kerr-Barlow is very much on the same wavelength as his boss.
“Look, firstly, playing under Ronan is a privilege. He is a great coach, and he seems to be able to get the best out of us in the moments that are most important. He cut his teeth as a club player in the Champions Cup and had great success and we can feel the intensity in all the preparation all the coaches go through – but definitely Ronan enjoys the Champions Cup and as a club, we do as well.”
Does O’Gara’s Munster background feed into the preparations when it’s his old rivals Leinster in the opposite corner? “Look, one of the best things about Ronan is generally he doesn’t try and take the shine away from the team he is coaching.
“He tries to prepare us the best that he can and likewise with all the coaches and if that is sharing a bit of wisdom through his experiences or otherwise how they prepare us, every bit of information is invaluable coming from a guy with his experience.
“There is something really cool playing up in this part of the world that we don’t get to experience back in the southern hemisphere. You have got the best teams from the best competitions. It is an extremely hard competition and we don’t take it for granted being able to play in the final. Everyone works extremely hard and you come up against all these top sides – and any of them can win it on their day. It’s awesome to be able to cut your teeth against teams from all the different countries.”
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It was in Ireland in January 2018 when Kerr-Barlow, who had forged his career with the Super Rugby Chiefs, made his European debut for La Rochelle. That was the club’s maiden Champions Cup season and it showed as they lost at Ulster and then went on to exit in the quarter-finals at Scarlets. Five years later, La Rochelle are remarkably set to play their third Champions Cup final.
“You look at the evolution, there has obviously been a lot of change in the coaching department but ever since La Rochelle in 2016/17 made the semi-final of the Top 14 when I wasn’t there, through the hard work of the front office, the president and co, they have built a structure.
“They had a plan and I’d say the plan now is coming to fruition. We have got the best opportunity to put ourselves in finals and play in the moments we want to play in. It was eight or nine years ago the club were in the second division here in France, so I would say it is a pretty extraordinary pathway to take.
“There definitely has been a lot of hard work and unfortunately, we had to lose a couple of finals to cut our teeth at this stage of the competition. I can’t take any credit for that, that’s the front office but I would say they have done really well.”
Recruitment is something La Rochelle have an enviable knack for doing exceptionally well and one old and one new example encapsulates this. It was 2014 when Fijian Levani Botia took a punt on the-then unfashionable club and he is still there now at the age of 34, creating havoc in the back row following a run of games earlier in the season at midfield.
“He is extremely talented, forwards and backs, and his ability around the contact area on attack and defence has been massive for us and is an important part of our team,” explained Kerr-Barlow before singing the praises of a more recent recruit, Ultan Dillane, who arrived as a lock from Connacht but has since evolved into an indispensable blindside.
"He absolutely destroyed me the second time. I don’t think he even made much of an effort" @staderochelais forward @Ultan_Dillane talks to @heagneyl ??? abt leaving Irish rugby, changing position, his 'pillow' story and more… https://t.co/3pxS2q547m
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 23, 2023
“First and foremost, he is a bloody good bloke. He came over as a lock and he is part-French as well, so he has got a good grasp of the language. He probably took a bit of time changing over into six, which is normal, but he has been massive for us, a massive contributor and an extremely important player as well.
“We play for each other in this team and if every bloke does his job, we give ourselves the best chance to get the desired result and those two fellas have been massive for us so far this season.”
It helps that this disparate band of brothers get on brilliantly away from the pitch, the Will Skelton sauna club their latest craze away from the training ground. “A couple of the boys are visiting the sauna quite frequently,” chuckled Kerr-Barlow.
“I managed to get there last week. He has got an awesome set-up that fella, it’s cool. It’s good to be able to connect outside rugby as well and decompress, but I was very impressed with the set-up that he was running.” The task now is to sweat out a result in the final.
Comments on RugbyPass
Another poor articles by a poor journo, nothing new from Ben, at least you are consistently bad lol, geez I will try and watch the match later, clearly Benny was only looking to one end of the pitch, hard to tell whom the Baby Blacks were playing if it wasn’t in the header 😄😄
7 Go to commentsNz should have won. I didn't watch the game, but the ref was at fault and the bounce of the ball and the Bokke used the Bomb squad and the Bokke slow the game down and the Bokke scrum. They should remove the scrum. The Bokke are to strong. Not fair. Nz should have won
7 Go to commentsProbably the worst article on a rugby match I have ever read
198 Go to commentsWho hurt this man.. LoL 😭
198 Go to commentsIt unfortunate for the Jaguares that they became formidable just as super rugby as we knew came to an end. However, the idea of bringing them back is nonsensical. While I enjoyed the Jaguares and the South African flavour of the comp, a selling point of this incarnation of super rugby is that all games are on a decent time for an Aussie audience.
2 Go to commentslol that’s your opinion Ben, All Blacks benefited from a forward pass try, SA played 77 min without a recognised hooker, missed a no try conversion and a penalty could have would have but didn’t
198 Go to commentsBrett, from my distant perspective, I hope you get to keep the Rebels. Any ideas of teams from Japan or Argentina are just crazy. Won’t happen. If you look at logistics, it is much easier to get to LA from Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne or Sydney than to Buenos Aires. All with direct non-stop daily flights. You may even get some “gringos” to watch the games, with some younger players compared to Giteau and Nonu who still “play” in the area. I think it is virtually impossible to get a competitive Argie team for SR. All Pumas are in Europe, almost all second tier players are also in Europe. Fringe players are in South American pro rugby tournament (and many still in the MLR!) but these players who might be most interested in joining a new Jaguares do not have the skills to compete. As I have been saying since the Jaguares joined, they should have had TWO teams to make logistics for visiting teams better and Argie player development improved as well. Jaguares/Pumas was not ideal. But this is where Pichot and his cronies did not think long enough. Further the country with he new president “No hay Plata” Milei is in a very difficult situation. Galperin, the richest man in Argentina owns the Miami franchise of MLR. I don’t think you can get him to invest in Argentina. Actually, he played rugby himself. He was a fly half. He is worth around $6 billion!
2 Go to commentsWell done Baby Boks we will take the Draw. No 9 senseless long passes in those conditions. let’s move on and hope for some good weather
7 Go to commentsHow did it end a draw. South Africa didn’t score any points as far as I can see
7 Go to commentsNo doubt this will be a fantastic occasion and I plan to be there, but I think the bean counters have won out over the rugby brains. In my opinion, it is foolhardy to give the Black Ferns the experience of playing in front of 60,000+ at Twickenham a year before they might be playing there in a World Cup Final. Better to play France at Twickenham and Black Ferns at Kingsholm. The difference in takings would be miniscule.
1 Go to commentsDom kant
198 Go to commentsBen is a little incel desperately trying to stir the pot and stay relevant. We used to get mad at his articles. Now we just feel sorry for him
198 Go to commentsPerhaps we may need to put an asterisk on NZ’s ‘87 WC win since the Boks weren’t there. You know, just as a reminder. Poor Ben Smith. Go cry somewhere else.
198 Go to commentsNz should have won. I didn't watch the game, but the ref was at fault and the bounce of the ball and the Bokke used the Bomb squad and the Bokke slow the game down and the Bokke scrum. They should remove the scrum. The Bokke are to strong. Not fair. Nz should have won
5 Go to commentsThanks for a much more balanced piece Ned and not that BS that Bin Smuth just posted a short while ago. read this article and then Bin Smuth’s and tell me there isn’t a huge difference🙄
5 Go to commentsWere the Baby Boks part of this game or did the Baby Blacks play themselves?🤔 That man Bin Smuth once again does a little write-up on the game and it is like 95% about the Baby Blacks🤣 Glad he ends off with the Baby Blacks were actually in cruise control for most of the game and weren’t actually playing for the win WTF🤣🤣 Maybe he was expecting the Baby Blacks to run rampant….
7 Go to commentsOne does not expect anything more from Ben Smith who epitomises the worst of New Zealand media arrogance and an inability to balance what he has to say about any team that beats the All Blacks. His reference to context is pathetically thin. He does not comment that Frizell deserved a red card given his blatant manipulation of his body to ensure that he could drop his body weight onto Mbonambi’s lower leg. No mention of the ball lost forward before the All Black’s try (lost in-field of the 5 metre line and gathered beyond). The All Black commitment and effort was superb and there was little in it. Given the Springbok passage to the final and the loss of their hooker in the first three minutes, their resolve and capacity to win their fourth final out of eight attempts (not three out of ten) deserves the praise that has been forthcoming from media around the world, worth reading and listening to. Ben should join his “pundit” friends on TV - he would fit in well. This sort of article reduces any credibility Rugby Pass has ever had. Why persist with this sort of nonsense? The man does his country and a rugby blog a disservice.
198 Go to commentsEtzebeth went on to say: “I would never dream of saying that systems stay in place following a change in captain. To say that would be deeply, deeply, disrespectful of Siya. A while back an Irish person told me they would be fine without Sexton, so I’m just responding to that.”
3 Go to commentsClose games are what we want to see…. What a match it was…. I am sure that everyone was drained by the end of it. The reality of it all there has to be a winner and a loser. The fact that we still talking about it is almost 6 months to the day Rugby is the winner.. Asante sana… Here is to 2027 and what it will bring out.
198 Go to commentsIt’s going to be a good game. COYQ
1 Go to comments