Romain Ntamack had warned before the start of the season, in 20 minutes : “In Toulouse, we are not satisfied with two semi-finals”, had dropped the opener of the Red and Black and the XV of France. Stade Toulousain was disappointed to have finished the previous year empty-handed, a year after a superb double, and we were going to see what we were going to see. And indeed, we see. After eight Top 14 games, Ugo Mola’s side have only lost once, in Pau (26-16).
She won at the Montpellier French champion with an almost experimental team (17-19) and has just beaten La Rochelle, reigning European champion, for the eighth time in a row, this Sunday at Ernest-Wallon (26- 17).
Injured in the tibia, the eldest of the Ntamack brothers has been injured since the 2nd day? Versatile full-back Thomas Ramos took the opening with talent, enquiring all the points of the victory over the Maritimes (one try and seven penalties, for a single foot failure). Toulouse and Antoine Dupont, who experienced unusual dross in his game (lost ball, blocked kick, etc.), did not need to shine to win against Grégory Alldritt’s teammates, it is true reduced to 14 from the 12th minute after the red card received by the pillar Reda Wardi.
“A team close to the international level”
A solid defense, a dominating conquest, a good opportunism embodied by an effective scorer, and roll youth… “It’s a team close to the international level, greeted Alldritt after the meeting. It is very realistic and just with that, that’s enough. “It’s a more than satisfactory result, had launched a little earlier Dupont. There is a bit of frustration on the content because the Rochelais prevented us from playing, either by slowing down the balls or by making mistakes. We were able to take advantage of it thanks to the success at the foot of Thomas. »
Before entering now in the not really blessed period of doubloons, the main supplier of the XV of France for the autumn test matches (nine players) came in with some grain for the winter: nine points ahead of its runner-up, Stade Français, and 10 over La Rochelle. “A comfortable position” for the 2nd or 3rd line Thibaut Flament, one of the internationals in question, happy to join Marcoussis leaving his team “on a good dynamic”.
Defense coach Laurent Thuéry is in his role when he issues a caveat: “We are on the 8th day of the championship, last year we started rather well then we had a hell of a hole in the air” A the same period, Toulouse was indeed already leader of the Top 14, but only three points ahead of UBB.
But, while the first doubles are announced during the next two Saturdays (in Bayonne, then against the Stade Français), the club seems to have done what is necessary to avoid reliving the historic “air hole” of there at one year old: six defeats in a row in the league between November 2021 and February 2022. The recruitment came to correct the weaknesses interviewed behind, with internationals (Jaminet, Barassi, the Italian Capuozzo) but also Arthur Retière, whose versatility (winger and rear) is preparing to render proud services with the drying up of the workforce, due to selections from each other.
A more assertive rotation policy
The same goes for Alexandre Roumat in the 3rd line, still in the waiting room with the Blues. Provided that the injury contracted this Sunday by the former Bordeaux-Bègles does not force him to join an already busy infirmary, in particular by the winners of the last Grand Slam Romain Ntamack, Cyril Baille – both on the return – and Francois Cros.
The Haut-Garonne management sought to rotate its team from the start of the season to avoid past mistakes, between overworked managers and reservists out of it and deprived of benchmarks when they were called upon to take over from the incumbents. Nothing says that the club will stack a 22nd Shield of Brennus and / or a sixth European Cup next spring. But to date, Stade Toulousain enjoys several steps ahead, at least at the domestic level, and not only on the accounting level.