Toulouse. Olivier Marin (Stade Toulousain RF manager): “The goal is to win back the title”
The World Cup in New Zealand over, the Elite 1 championship begins this weekend. The Toulousaines, defending champions, are in the starting blocks.
Between the victorious final of Stade Toulousain against Blagnac (16-10), last June 4 in Grenoble, and the opening of the 2021-2022 exercise this Saturday, in Lons, it will therefore have been spent six months, Mondial in New Zealand obliges. The Toulousaines who know they are expected after their first national coronation, are eager to set out again to conquer the title. Olivier Marin, the general manager, talks about his expectations for this season.
Starting a championship in December is not trivial.
Indeed, but it is rather a good one to choose to privilege the safety of the girls. But we didn’t sit idly by. We have played four Coupe de France matches. And even if it doesn’t have the same flavor as the championship, the girls yearned to play again.
Are you satisfied with these confrontations in the Coupe de France?
Yes, in terms of accounts, we total three wins for one draw But in the content, there are things to settle, we have to find cohesion. But I’m happy with the results, we reviewed about 40 girls, which proves that the tank is good.
So much the better because you are seeing a lot of changes in your squad with a lot of players retiring, especially internationals.
Indeed, we have a dozen girls who stop. A whole first line, a 2nd line with Ferer and Clave-Chastaing, Bilon in the 3rd line, and then Sansus, Imart Cabalou, Boudaud behind. It’s still hot! They arrived at the end of the cycle but they were also executives of the life of the group. So we have to rebuild all of that. But it is a challenge all the more motivating.
You will have to be because the tenant of the title will be expected everywhere.
We were able to realize it in the Coupe de France, we will be expected with the honors due to our rank (laughs).
Do you consider yourself in reconstruction with a more medium-term objective?
Absolutely not, the challenge is to regain the title. We are at Stade Toulousain, we can’t afford not to be ambitious, and that’s not the club’s mentality, it’s not the girls’ mentality, it’s not mine either. We know that we will have less maturity compared to last season’s group, but a lot of clubs are in this configuration this season. Everyone has their share of departures, renewals. We have interesting prospects for the future, with very good youngsters crowned champions of France who are also moving up.
How do you judge the competition?
We are in a very tough pool. Bordeaux has made a huge recruitment. Montpellier is a safe bet. We should have complicated, balanced matches. It is necessary to progress.