Castres – Stade Toulousain: Toulouse had set the bar too high
Not renewing the extraordinary of last year (doubled) does not constitute a failure. And does not prevent straightening some things.
This first semi-final in the form of a derby reminded those who had forgotten that a final phase match is immutable, it leaves little room for any errors in any sector of the game. . Even if you have mastered this one for a good part of the season. We have repeatedly praised the mastery and discipline of Stade Toulousain. And what happens during this cleaver match? The trend reverses that of the season. Few teams resist the handicap of two yellow cards received in the semi-finals.
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Even greater Toulouse. And even more so when you are dragging traces of fatigue from a season that is too long for the many reasons already stated. The image of Antoine Dupont crippled with cramps at the end of the match was most striking. There wasn’t much gas left in the tank. Especially since the Toulouse scrum half had done a lot of defensive work during the meeting with some “catching up” after missed tackles from his teammates.
The first observation of defeat is linked to the lack of discipline. Ugo Mola in agreement with the dampness of the Allianz Riviera interview room: “The second yellow card is too much. But when we target discipline and the game of pressure as the keys to this meeting, we cannot end up with seven penalties whistled against us and two yellow cards in the first period. Usually, we are more disciplined. It’s when it counts that you have to be disciplined. On a failing sector on this. »
Remember December 26
The second invariably refers to the state of fatigue of the players and to a calendar full of duplicates which distorted part of the season even if the Toulouse organization chart refrains from saying it too loudly so as not to be decked out with the adjective of mourner.
Duplicates have almost always existed, but this season, the Covid and its procession of postponed matches have upset the entire calendar, not allowing the necessary rest periods to be obtained. What if part of the season was played on December 26 when the announced Stade Français did not move on the day of the match? For some, the image will be a bit strong. But this meeting thus shifted in a period without internationals added to that of Montpellier weighed down the calendar of the Stadium which appeared logically blunted.
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Now, at the time of the balance sheet, it is a season without a title. But not a failed season. Why ? Is not renewing the extraordinary a failure? This could have been a subject of baccalaureate philosophy. To sum up, we wrote it at the start of the season, what the Stade had achieved last season with the double was simply exceptional. And the characteristic of the exceptional is that it does not happen every year. Let’s never forget that before winning the Brennus again in 2019, the Stade had waited a long seven years…
Legs behind in the recruitment basket
And now ? The Stadium will go into reconquest without a status to defend. Ugo Mola and his staff are already ready: “We are going to test our character to bounce back after this failed season for some and two semi-finals for others. We may have to better manage the freshness of our big players next year. »
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The recruitment basket should also do some good. The Stade lacked hind legs in the season (injuries, departures of Huget and Kolbe not compensated). This should no longer be the case next year with the arrivals of Jaminet, Capuozzo, Barassi or Retière. “We will come back stronger” assures Anthony Jelonch. No one doubts it.