Event of the Day: Wasps v La Rochelle

Our event of the day is the European Rugby Champions Cup clash between Wasps and La Rochelle at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. La Rochelle have the maximum 15 points from their first three games and are leaders in Pool 1, while Wasps are third with six points and just the one win. This is a must-win match for them in front of their home fans, if they are to stay in contention for the knock-out stages. However it will be a tough task, considering the heavy 49-29 defeat La Rochelle inflicted upon them in France, last Sunday. If the French side repeat such a performance and record another bonus-point win, they will be very close to securing their place in the quarter-finals. La Rochelle are rarely showing weaknesses this season – they lead the French Top 14 league as well, and have lost just three games this season. In their first encounter with Wasps, winger Vincent Rattaz and flanker Levani Botia Veivuke both recorded a brace of tries.

Prior to this loss, Wasps had picked up their form in the English Aviva Premiership, climbing to fifth place in the table with four straight victories. Key man for La Rochelle this season is centre Geoffrey Doumayrou who has nine clean breaks already in this year’s competition. Wasps captain Joe Launchbury is one of the top tacklers in the tournament with 51 completed tackles and he will play a key role in trying to neutralize the rampant La Rochelle attack. It should be a thrilling game of rugby at the Ricoh Arena this afternoon.

 

Honourable mentions around the globe go to Day 6 of the Olympia Horse Show at the Olympia Exhibition Centre in London. Events today include the Pony Club Mini Major, the Jumping Leg and the Mistletoe Mini Stakes. It’s the final day of the 2017 PSA World Championships in squash at the National Squash Centre in Manchester. Men’s and women’s finals close the tournament with Mohammad Elshorbagy taking on brother Marwan Elshorbagy in the Men’s and Nour El Sherbini playing Raneem El Welily - all finalists are from Egypt. It’s Day 4 of the 3rd Test in the 2017-18 Ashes series between Australia and England at the WACA ground in Perth, Australia lead by 146 runs waith six wickets remaining. Also in cricket, it’s 3rd ODI between India and Sri Lanka takes place at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. The PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London continues. In the NBA, the Washington Wizards play the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. There are four fixtures in the NHL including the Canadian duel of the Vancouver Canucks and the Calgary Flames at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The NFL has a big match between the leading teams of the AFC, the Pittsburgh Steelers host the New England Patriots at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field.

 

Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!

 

Fixture

 

Photos by Wasps Rugby; La Rochelle