Super League: Toulouse Olympique XIII to leave or double against Wakefield
This Sunday, May 15 (3:30 p.m.), the TO receives, at the Ernest-Wallon stadium, its direct rival for maintenance. Defeat is forbidden for the Toulouse red lantern.
The context
It’s not a Cup match, but it still has a little scent of a playoff match. At 3:30 p.m., Toulouse Olympique, last in the Super League standings after the first 11 days, begins the return phase. For this first match of the second phase, Toulouse are hosting their direct competitor in the standings. Wakefield, 11th and penultimate, arrives in the Pink City with a lead of four units.
At the foot of the wall, Toulouse has no choice. She must at all costs win her second success of the season. A victory would revive the team of President Sarrazain in its race to maintain. A few hours before kick-off, we can only imagine a single second, defeat. It would not be mathematically eliminatory since there remain fifteen meetings and thirty points to capitalize. However, a setback would be a very bad investment. In short, defeat is forbidden.
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The first leg
On March 11 in the Be Well Support Stadium, Willie Poching’s team got the better of their Toulouse rival (18-6). Wakefield’s playmakers: David Fifita, Tom Johnstone, Kelepi Tanginoa had tipped the scales. “That day, we had not played at our best level, we were also frustrated by the narrow defeat (28-29) against Wigan” remembers the pillar Romain Navarrete (ex Wakefield player like Tony Gigot and Olly Ashall-Bott).
First for Daniel Alvaro, Corey Norman not in the group
Scrum-half Lucas Albert has served his two-game suspension and regained his place in the squad. His friend from the hinge, Tony Gigot put to rest during the trip to Hull FC, is also making his return, that’s good news! To everyone’s surprise, the Australian Corey Norman, who arrived very recently on the banks of the Garonne, is not in the group. On the other hand, the pillar, Daniel Alvaro, the Italian international from Australia, was retained by coach Sylvain Houlès. A player to follow, this Sunday afternoon, on the lawn of Ernest-Wallon.
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The Toulouse group
Jussaume, Marcon, Albert, Navarrete, White, Hansen, Dixon, Marion, Pélissier, Puech, Garbutt, Cunningham, Bergal, Hankison, Springer, Sangaré, Russell, Ashall-Bott, Stefani, Gigot (cap), Alvaro.