Champions Cup – Toulouse is wary of the English ambush
CHAMPIONS CUP – As part of the third day of the Champions Cup, Stade Toulousain moves to the lawn of Sale on Saturday at 2 p.m. A match that the Haut-Garonnais do not smoke lightly despite their great success in the first leg (45-19).
“Toulouse are probably the best team in the movement game and we let them do too much today. I can’t wait to play them again in Manchester on a cold and rainy afternoon.”Alex Sanderson, coach of Sale, after the defeat of the first leg of his team was already starting the second leg.
The Toulouse stadium therefore knows that it is expected in the suburbs of Manchester. Aware of the fight they will have to lead, Ugo Mola and his troops do not want to claim victory too quickly. To hope for the best possible result away from home, we will have to face a team that will impose a lot of rhythm and aggressiveness.
In the first leg, the Toulouse had largely dominated the English of Sale (45-19)
Especially since opposite, the Sharks de Sale, will be quite revengeful after the box collected on the side of Ernest-Wallon. For Ugo Mola, the Toulouse manager, it will be a proven battle until the final whistle:It’s never easy to go and play in England, even less with the co-leader of the championship, we expect a tough test that risks testing us physically. It’s up to us to respond on the ground, with commitment and fighting spirit.”
Another factor to win for the Rouge et Noir: the weather. A described English weather awaits them, with the rain and the cold which should take place throughout the meeting on the AJ Bell Stadium.
Weather conditions that are not compatible with the hand game, a Toulouse trademark, but depending on who could serve the opposing game well Antoine Dupont: “the weather conditions will perhaps suit them, they have a strong pack and like to dominate physically, to play on foot. He must be able to play in several ways, to spread the ball when possible or to be more restrictive when the need arises.”
Tuilagi, danger number one
Admittedly, the English had sunk in December in Toulouse, but at that time some of its best elements were missing. This is particularly the case of the English international center, Manu Tuilagi or even the third line center Daniel Du Preez, last minute package during the first leg and who failed in the group for this meeting.
Regarding the overpowering center of the XV de la Rose, his presence risks changing the situation somewhat. On the offensive level at first, his team relies a lot on his physical qualities for taking balls in the axis and decoys in his back, which works wonderfully.
![Absent in the first leg, Manu Tuilagi will be the number weapon of the Sharks on Saturday afternoon](https://images.rugbyrama.fr/api/v1/images/view/63bf1d0d590c4b7bfd10a647/full/image.jpg?v=1)
Absent in the first leg, Manu Tuilagi will be the number weapon of the Sharks on Saturday afternoon
On a defensive level, he is a player who is renowned for being hard on the man, at the limit of the rule. He will therefore be responsible for stopping all attacks in the axis of the players in the pink city. He is, as the Occitan manager says with a smile, “a weapon of mass destruction.“The center pair lined up this Saturday will be faced with perhaps what is done best in this position at the moment, and will have to be vigilant at all times.
Everything is therefore in place for the people of Toulouse to experience hell across the Channel this weekend. But when we know the quality of this workforce from Haut-Garonne, and its desire to carry out the best of operations outside with a view to qualification, we must above all expect a titanic fight between two cadors of their respective championships. .