Toulouse hopes to take an option for qualification
“Dolphins” of the Saracens in the Premiership, the Manchester Sharks advance confident of their strength. Beaten only twice in the league, they took place against Ulster on the first day (39-0). The strengths of this team? The Le Preez brothers, the indefatigable Tom Curry in the third line… Enough for Ugo Mola to announce the color: “We cannot be surprised by the quality and intensity of Sale’s game. “The manager of Stade Toulousain to support:” It will still hit hard against this English team. »
The people of Toulouse have prepared accordingly. The presence in the third row of Thibaud Flament and the good pickaxe Jack Willis prove it, as does the association Meafou – Arnold in second.
Vigilant Dupont
But Antoine Dupont still raised the level of vigilance: “They are coming off a very big performance against Ulster. It’s like their start to the season, it’s a team that puts in great performances: they score a lot of points, they dominate their matches… We’ve been warned. We know it will be a big chunk. »
“It’s a very good team up front, with conquering forwards and a very solid scrum,” adds Cyril Baille, who is making his comeback as a starter after his injury against South Africa during the November tour: “Behind also, it is very expensive. They have a lot of X factors. They are not second in the English championship for nothing. »
This distrust is not superfluous. Antoine Dupont, the captain of the Blues and Toulouse who will be associated with Romain Ntamack, targets the challenge for his team: “This victory (at Munster 18-13, editor’s note) launched us well in this Champions Cup. On taking important points away, that was the goal. Now, we don’t know this competition too well either: we have to validate this victory against Sale otherwise the counters will be reset. »