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Youthful La Rochelle name teen captain for Champions Cup match in South Africa / Photo: © AFP
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Youthful La Rochelle name teen captain for Champions Cup match in South Africa
Two-time winners La Rochelle will go into their Champions Cup match against South African franchise Stormers on Saturday with a host of youngsters including 19-year-old Lucas Andjisseramatchi who will captain them at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The club's Irish coach Ronan O'Gara, who named his side on Friday, has been forced into the changes because of a number of injuries to key players and the absence of international back-rowers Gregory Alldritt and Oscar Jegou who are on holiday.
Andjisseramatchi, who is a product of the Massy academy just south of Paris, has only 12 professional appearances to his name.
Of his six this season just two have been as a starter: last week he came on as a replacement in the 39-20 home win over Leicester.
O'Gara, however, has a high opinion of the teenager's leadership qualities.
“I asked him if he was comfortable with it this week, and when I saw the grin on his face...," O'Gara said at Friday's press conference.
"He’s a very respectful boy, very well brought up, very well grounded. He knows what he wants. He took charge of the week.
"Doing that at his age is very rare. I had enormous respect for him but today it’s even greater."
Andjisseramatchi will pack down at No. 8 between 19-year-old Russian Kirill Fraindt, who has just 13 minutes as a replacement to his name at professional level, and 20-year-old French junior international Charles Kante-Samba.
Two more 19-year-olds line up at half-back with scrum-half Nolhann Couillaud and fly-half Diego Jurd, who finished the match together against Leicester.
The La Rochelle backline also includes wing Hoani Bosmorin and centre Simeli Daunivucu, both 20, and 21-year-old full-back Nathan Bollengier.
O'Gara can call on some experience in the pack against the Stormers who won their opener against Bayonne in France last weekend.
The tight five includes Frenchmen Reda Wardi and Quentin Lespiaucq, the Irish international Ultan Dillane and Australian veteran Kane Douglas.
F.Young--SFF
