Toulouse. Sylvain Houlès: “We no longer suffer”
The Toulouse Olympique coach is very calm when it comes to the semi-final against Batley tomorrow. He knows his players capable of continuing their formidable ride.
Authors of a course so far flawless, the Toulouse spoke in the best conditions of their semi-final of accession to the Super League, tomorrow, against Batley. Sylvain Houlès, the TO coach, gives himself up on the eve of this crucial match.
Sylvain, do you agree if you say that you have had an exceptional season so far?
For the moment, yes, it is exceptional. But it’s also because I have an exceptional group of players. We have never had so much quality. Today, I find myself with 26 of the 27 players in the squad available for the semi-final. The hardest part is making a choice. But I add that if we miss there, in the home stretch, our exceptional course will quickly be forgotten.
The statistics of the team are impressive. Let’s start with the offensive aspect with more than 50 points on average per game.
We have always been famous for our attack. It is a sector that we have built for many years with Johno Ford, Mark Kheirallah, then now Tony Gigot and Lloyd White. It is a sector where we also work a lot on agility through skills. We play, we try because we accept faults on the chains because we feel strong in defense.
Defense precisely, yours is almost impassable this season with less than 9 points conceded in each game.
It is a great satisfaction, a great pride. I would like to underline the enormous work carried out by Christophe Toustou in this area. We have become a team that forces the opponent’s mistakes, we no longer suffer.
It was one of your priorities this season, right?
Indeed, we know that in all the major leagues, Super League and NRL, it is generally the teams with the best defenses that win. I also asked Christophe Toustou to study those of Wigan and Saint-Helens in England, and of Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm in Australia.
When approaching the final phase, all the lights are therefore green.
Yes, I am also serene because I have complete confidence in the quality of my group, in the way in which it has prepared with my staff. But after that, it’s still sport. There is something human that comes into play, a psychological aspect that will be important. There will be nervousness, pressure at home for these last two games, two games which are the most important in the history of the club.
A quick word on Batley to finish?
It’s a play-off team, with a real team spirit. They commit few faults, seek to complete their chains, expect some kicking play. They will wait for our faults. Undermining will be necessary to tire them out.