The opposition between Bordelais and Toulouse, at the end of the 19th day this Sunday March 24, offered a high-flying spectacle, which ended with a narrow success for the Girondins (31-28). Defensive bonus for the “red and black”, one point is already good!
The reconnection waited half a time. While Stade Toulousain advanced armed to the teeth to challenge Bordeaux-Bègles, it especially had a good time against the Union, living a real nightmare during the first act. This was marked by the early exit of Ramos (4) – victim of a collision (ribs) with Ahki on a defensive return –, four tries conceded and a yellow card collected (Costes, 36).
Fortunately Lucu had left seven points, inviting Jalibert to take over to limit the effects of an already heavy addition at the break (24-7).
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Bordeaux-Bègles – Stade Toulousain: Antoine Dupont, one half and off we go! We scrutinized the returning star player’s game
Dominated in collisions and put under pressure by the aggressive Bordelais in defense, with constant pressure in the rucks, the Toulouse residents had a hard time existing during the first 40 minutes where every moment of weakness was punished. A ball lost by Lebel in a ruck on a kick cover after getting in the way with Mallia? A try from Moefana a few passes later (4).
A penalty conceded in scrum? A try from Tatafu after a penalty and patience from the Girondins in front of the line (21st). A ball snatched from Dupont? Another achievement after Lucu’s diagonal for Penaud who deposited Lebel (24th). Without forgetting, while Dupont had saved his team in front of Lamothe (38), the poorly negotiated touch offered the UBB the last attack of the first act, played in the area where Costes was lacking, Buros rushing into a boulevard (40 +1).
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REPLAY. Bordeaux-Bègles – Stade Toulousain: the injury of Thomas Ramos, nine tries and a suspenseful ending… Relive the Top 14 poster
Lebel, a double that changes everything
So of course, we can always highlight the disorganization linked to the exit of Ramos, the perhaps forward pass from Jalibert on the first try, a possibly high tackle from Bochaton on Dupont on the third or an interpretation that we may find harsh, depending on the camp in which we place ourselves, the attempted volley pass under pressure from Penaud which earned Costes his card.
But despite the trickster try scored by Willis at the edge of a ruck (32nd), the leader had missed far too many things against a host skilled in alternation and having dictated his tempo.
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Bordeaux-Bègles – Stade Toulousain: “I’m not going to fixate…” Matthis Lebel challenges his rivals in the French team this Sunday
Faced with such an observation, the walls of Matmut Atlantique probably did not even need to tremble. And after having narrowly missed returning from the locker room in a few sequences, Stade Toulousain finally found itself, the effects of rapid coaching undoubtedly having something to do with it. Relaunched by Ahki’s try following a penalty played with the hand (53), we believed that the double scored in three minutes by Lebel, after a chistera from Dupont (62) and a small bridge on Buros (64) would have allowed them to knock out the UBB, accustomed to seeing the Stadists reappear out of nowhere.
In an unbreathable end to the match, it was without counting on the Gironde pugnacity, giving back the advantage to his team by flirting with the line in the corner (31-28, 70) before scratching a ball in front of his goal after a breakthrough by Dupont (75).
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Bordeaux-Bègles – Stade Toulousain: “I started crying by myself…” The referee overwhelmed by emotion after a Toulouse match
With a point in their pocket and feeling their opponents on the verge of a knockout, the Toulouse team, who had the penalty for a draw, 22 meters on the line of 15, wanted to play for the win by opting for the penalty. A losing choice given the tenacity of the Girondins in front of their line.