Toulouse on the rebound, La Rochelle put to the test by Clermont
Looking sorry, the people of Toulouse, like children caught in the jam jar, made their mea culpa this week after their defeat against the Pau Section (26-16). “We left for Pau without being afraid. We didn’t respect them and we took the tariff, ”recognized international hooker Peato Mauvaka. “We were not good on the basics of rugby, combat and aggression. We had less than them, if at all.
Ugo Mola’s men had to be safe from another overconfidence on Saturday evening (9:05 p.m.) at Ernest-Wallon against a more prestigious opponent on paper, Racing, who fear a reaction of pride . “We know that, at home, they will want to challenge themselves, reassure themselves about things they know how to do. We know where we are stepping and we know in what atmosphere they had to train this week, ”warned Ile-de-France second line Boris Palu, a native of Toulouse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7sr3MgDekc
Ambition
Nothing to be forgiven on the side of the Rochelais, impressive since the start of the season, with three wins in three games and rookies already in tune. These ambitious Maritimers even seem able to be the first in the history of the Caravelle club to win at the Marcel-Michelin stadium in Clermont. But their former coach Jono Gibbes, now on the Auvergne bench, no doubt has a plan for this Sunday evening poster (9:05 p.m.) between the two most prolific teams in the championship so far in number of tries scored.
Confirmation
A victory and it (re)starts. On the verge of crisis after its two inaugural losses, Bordeaux-Bègles gave itself some air by dominating Castres (33-12) last weekend. A first success to be confirmed for the Girondins during their short trip on Saturday (5 p.m.) to Bayonne, a promoted author of a recommended start to the season, like his untenable three-quarter Fijian center Sirili Makala. The Basque club has already offered itself two weeks ago, in the warm atmosphere of its Jean-Dauger stadium, the scalp of a “big”, Racing (31-25). The UBB is warned.
Position
The last two finalists of the Top 14, Montpellier and Castres, have a rank to hold, each on their ground on Saturday (5 p.m.). It will be for the MHR, deprived of its international center Arthur Vincent, again affected in the left knee, against a team from Pau undoubtedly reinvigorated by its success against Toulouse.
The CO will try to chain against Brive a 23rd match without defeat in its fortress of Pierre-Fabre. The Tarn club has not been beaten there since December 2020, precisely by the Corréziens.
Party
Perpignan will be keen on Saturday (3 p.m.) against Toulon, at the start of this 4th day, to offer its loyal fans of Aimé-Giral a first victory this season for the club’s 120th anniversary.