the Stade coup group, ghostly Mercer
A feat retained by the outgoing champion and a captain in great shape but also a star in the hard and missed match points… The Tops and the Flops after Montpellier-Toulouse (17-19).
Tops
The big blow of Stade Toulousain
A major feat that allows you to sit in the leader’s chair. At the end of a fast-paced gala match between the last two French champions, Stade Toulousain managed to bring down Montpellier at GGL Stadium (17-19). With a starting XV however largely overhauled, the Haut-Garonnais have managed to never be removed by the Héraultais, whom they dominate for the third consecutive season in their lair. In a tense end to the match to the advantage of their opponents, Ugo Mola’s men, outnumbered after Emmanuel Meafou’s red card after a contact to the head from Zach Mercer, held on until the end to glean their second success away from home after their victory at Bordeaux on the first day. This meeting also saw the two Retière brothers, Arthur and Edgar (who were celebrating his first in the Top 14), being aligned from the start at the hinge. With success.
Julien Marchand, a captain at the forefront of the fight
What a performance from the hooker of Stade Toulousain and the XV of France. Intractable in the ruck areas as usual, the Haut-Garonne captain managed to scratch three balls in the first act alone. Symbol of the domination of his first line in melee with three whistled penalties against the Héraultais in this sector. Often in the advance ball in hand, Julien Marchand was undoubtedly the most prominent Toulousain at the GGL Stadium.
Léo Coly, the rough diamond of the MHR
Elected revelation of last season and best player of Pro D2, the former Montois Léo Coly was in all the good moves of the MHR on Sunday evening. At the origin of Anthony Bouthier’s essay (7e) by taking the initiative to launch the game wide then decisive passer on the try of Enzo Forletta (25e), the Hérault scrum-half to breathe a frantic pace into his men, who ended up paying for himself in the opposing organizations. His association at the hinge with the other flagship recruit of the MHR, the opener Louis Carbonel, is already doing wonders in the game of the reigning French champions, new leaders of the Top 14 at the end of this 5e daytime.
The flops
Zach Mercer walks through the game like a shadow
His title of best player in the Top 14 last season acquired this week seems to have been badly digested. Against Stade Toulousain, the Englishman Zach Mercer did not weigh on the meeting, missing several tackles and failing to put his own in the advanced ball in hand. Stunned by a devastating charge to the level of his head from Emmanuel Meafou, who saw red at the very end of the match (79e), the third-line ended the meeting with a concussion protocol and could have several games in the coming weeks.
Expensive misses
Missed match points that leave a bitter taste. In the last 20 minutes, the Héraultais had several opportunities to go and afford a fourth consecutive success but missed them all. Twice, Louis Carbonel was imprecise in these kicks, however focused and in his ropes before Anthony Bouthier made a forward to Vincent Rattez after an ill-adjusted pass, in a try that seemed ready. After the siren, the Montpellier residents had a final penal ammunition with a touch in the 22 meters but a bad design of the maul came to put them at fault one last time. Much to the delight of their opponents.
Brennan and Faumuina released prematurely by the Toulouse staff
Early changes that look like a sanction. Half an hour into the game, some time after Montpellier’s second try which, like the first, started from an indiscipline err from Toulouse, Ugo Mola made two strong choices by deciding to bring out Joshua Brennan and Charlie Faumuina for the benefit of Emmanuel Meafou and Dorian Aldegheri. Outings on coaching and not on injury that the two players concerned seemed to have difficulty understanding. At the end of the match, Joshua Brennan returned to the field to replace Thibaud Flament (70e).