Champions Cup: the destiny of Stade Toulousain passes through South Africa
Winners of Munster without an offensive bonus, Toulouse will face the Bulls in the round of 16 at home. And maybe another South African franchise (the Sharks) in the quarters.
This is not the royal road expected. Just a start of the highway with a round of 16 at home and a possible quarter also in Toulouse but a half away since the Stadium does not finish first in its group. It would be in Ireland if the number 1 of the other group, Leinster, does not misstep at home until then.
First observation, it’s already better than last year when the whole course took place exclusively outside. Second observation, there are many other French clubs (five already eliminated) who would like to be in Stade Toulousain’s place today…
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But it’s true that at the final whistle, there was this curious impression with almost no arms raised in the sky among Toulouse as the club won their fourth match in as many games. But without offensive bonus therefore for a second place in the group which offers a completely new round of 16 against the South African franchise of the Bulls. Not enough to have the balls according to Antoine Dupont: “We also have to be satisfied with what we have done. We won our four group matches but there are many things to review, especially in the discipline where we were challenged a lot in the rucks.”
In fact, for a long time, Toulouse was mainly in the battle to simply win the opposition for the fourth consecutive time and never in the battle for an offensive bonus. Because we had almost forgotten that playing Munster had never been a cakewalk. Especially in winter conditions like yesterday (negative temperature).
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Impeccable jaminet at the foot
And yet, everything seemed to be going well. We think of this first very long Toulouse game sequence which was translated on the first try of the meeting. Or by following that defensive streak with several tackles going forward (Jelonch, Arnold, Meafou) that pushed Munster back thirty yards! Impressive.
The worst then seemed to come for the Munstermen when the three men repeated the destruction operation several times in the first period. But despite everything, the Irish province remained held back behind Toulouse (11-0 still at the half-hour mark) and even managed to cross the line on its only foray into the Toulouse twenty-two meters (11-5 ).
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In confidence, the Irish therefore fought to the end and even went ahead (13-11) to everyone’s surprise as soon as they resumed after a superb try. From that moment, only the victory objective was then in sight for the Toulousains. And Jaminet’s impeccable boot allowed him to fill in to secure the eighth at home, which would not have been the case if the Stade had lost without a defensive bonus…
In the end, Ugo Mola was not surprised by the performance of the Irish yesterday afternoon: “In view of their last matches, they had already put their rugby back in place. We beat a very, very good team tonight. first place, on losing to Sale last week.”
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See you now on the weekend of April 1 in Toulouse against the Bulls. And maybe against another South African franchise the Sharks if they beat Munster. The South African way…