line out

Back row Van der Flier added further gloss to the scoreline for the four-time winners with a powerful surge from a line-out.

Itoje rose high to take a line-out ball, the pack pushed the Bulls back and George dropped down over the line, thumping the turf with his fist in celebration.

Russell knocked over a second penalty but La Rochelle responded with another line-out move and, with Bath expecting another pack-heavy maul, the ball was moved off the top for Kerr-Barlow to pick up off his toes and glide through a hole in the defence.

It came after a Valetini tackle on Mack Hansen resulted in just a penalty, from which Ireland pounced from the line-out with Van der Flier crossing after Doris and Hansen had been repelled.

Jamie George was his usual steady self at the line-out, finding an England player with 30 of his 31 line-out throws.