Gone in a flash, one simple sentence summed up back-to-back Investec Champions Cup winners La Rochelle’s hopes of a historic European and domestic double in 2023.

Just weeks removed from securing yet another comeback of epic proportions against Irish powerhouse Leinster in the Champions Cup final, Ronan O’Gara’s side stood eighty minutes from history when they took to the hallowed turf of the Stade de France.

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Putting on a breathtaking display of clinical and controlled rugby against their arch-rivals, La Rochelle had one hand firmly on the trophy heading into the final minute of a pulsating encounter.

Holding a four-point advantage, the men in yellow could afford to push the boundaries in defence to get a turnover.

As the phases built and the La Rochelle defence held firm, it was clear only a miracle could save Toulouse from what would have been a trophyless season for rugby’s Galácticos.

Stacked to the gills with world-class, home-grown talent, Toulouse had often been La Rochelle’s kryptonite. Completing a rather bizarre game of rock, paper, and scissors, Toulouse defeated La Rochelle, who in turn defeated Leinster, who subsequently defeated Toulouse in a battle for European Rugby supremacy. Now was the time for O’Gara’s men to final scale their Everest and confirm their superiority as the world's undisputed number one club side.

With the pendulum swinging firmly in their favour, La Rochelle fans began to celebrate as cheers of admiration for their heroes rung out around the Stade de France.

Remaining calm in chaos, Toulouse turned to their star halfback pairing of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack for inspiration.

Two men with whom French Rugby’s hopes of a Rugby World Cup title on home turf later that year rested were now presented with the perfect dress rehearsal at the venue where they would play their knockout rugby.

Stepping up when others would shy away, the duo produced a moment of magic that will stand the test of time as one of the greatest match-winning moments in Top 14 history.

Securing the ball ten meters inside their half, Toulouse were faced with a brick wall of yellow defenders.

Near mechanical in their movement, the giant La Rochelle side got set to win the collision to turn over what would’ve been the defining ruck of their season.

This lapse in concentration was just what the doctor ordered for Dupont and Ntamack, with the scrumhalf delivering a perfectly placed pass to his long-time lieutenant.

From here, Ntamack produced an attacking run fit for a Hollywood blockbuster. He shredded through the La Rochelle defensive line before leaving everyone in his wake.

Having completed the pendulum's final swing, Ntamack dove over the line and immediately opened his arms to the skies to acknowledge that his place in rugby history had been firmly cemented.

Collapsing to the ground, the La Rochelle players appeared as shellshocked as the Leinster players whom they had handed a similar fate in a rather twisted correcting of the universe.

For Ntamack, this moment would prove to be his highlight in 2023. A cruel injury ruled him out of the 2023 Rugby World Cup and struck a major blow with which French Rugby could not recover, as they were unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament at the quarterfinal stage.

Regaining the title they had won in 2021, Toulouse's 2023 victory would prove to be the catalyst for its reinvigoration. The team went on to win both the Investec Champions Cup and Top 14 the following season.

Conversely, La Rochelle would come unstuck in both the Champions Cup as Leinster exacted their revenge on O’Gara’s men before losing to Toulouse in the final. Weeks later, La Rochelle would again come up short against their nemesis in black, this time at the semi-final stage to set up a soul-searching offseason on the French Atlantic coast.

Rugby fans can enjoy all of the epic encounters between La Rochelle and Toulouse live and on replay on FloRugby via our subscription platform.

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