Toulouse. Stadium: from the peace of mind
On the eve of the holidays, the Toulousains must conclude this first block of 10 games with a success against Usap, on the lookout for a good shot against a host who can recover his chair.
Because a boomerang quickly comes back to your head, especially at Ernest-Wallon – Stade Toulousain remains Stade Toulousain – the Catalans will not trumpet it too loudly. To better conceal their ambitions, they will have the same value as they too are impacted by the international window (Jaminet, De la Fuente, Deguy, Oviedo, Taumoepeau). However, they are always aware that it is better to play the double reigning champion without his many internationals, whether valid (the 11 Blues and Rory Arnold) or injured (Elstadt, Chocobares and Mallia). And that there is no better period than that of doubloons to try to do a blow to Ernest-Wallon. Lyon and Castres in the fall but also Montpellier at the end of the Tournament and Bayonne before the European Cup final can attest to this for last season alone.
A context on which we are perfectly clear in the Stadist camp. “They are looking for points, it’s the holidays so in our opinion, they will be there to try to make a result and will line up, we think, their best team, loose Virgile Lacombe. Suddenly a game a little more restricted but they will try to beat us. “
“Always be alert”
The coach of the “red and black” scrum is therefore wary of a Pro D2 champion who has just given a lesson in investment in La Rochelle and who for example brought back a defensive bonus from the Arena. “You have to always be alert to this team which is dangerous on the counter-attacking balls, in the disorganized game, continues the former hooker. She is able to develop the volume of play and her big individualities make a lot of differences which allows him after the static phases to score quickly, after three to four times of play. If we are not alert to his throws, during kicking exchanges or when there will be penalties against us, if we low intensity and low pace, I think we’re going to have the wrong game. “
Income empty-handed and frustrated from Nanterre where they sinned in realism and paid a high price for their catastrophic return to half-time, the Toulouse know that a hitch this afternoon against the Catalans – who will above all strive to occupy , defend well and be present in the fight – need to tarnish the excellent start to the accounting season they have achieved.
“Whatever the score”
“With a victory at home this weekend, the results will be positive but the first thing is to be able to win with this team that we have at our disposal,” continues Lacombe. Whichever way, then?
“The way is what allows us to seek a result,” he retorts. Before qualifying: “Now, we have had matches that we weren’t necessarily good at, where we didn’t necessarily succeed in putting in place the game worked on during the week and the strategy established but there was sometimes despite everything the result. And here we are looking for a result. “
What Antoine Miquel confirms: “It is starting to take off, I think the holidays are going to be good. We will have to send ourselves thoroughly. We are not thinking of defeat but of settling all together, of making a big game in intensity. And regardless of the score, if the mood is there, we will be satisfied. ” And released to attack the holidays with peace of mind.
The trend: Toulouse 70% – Perpignan 30%