The desire and determination of the Lyonnais led by his duo of ex-Toulouseans was too strong for Bulls with aging executives, who wondered what they had come to do in this mess…
The tops
We could have spoken of the “regulars” Bamba and Tuisova, radiating power. However, if the Lyon line-up is sometimes struggling in the Top 14, we cannot forget that he found the right fuel against the Bulls with a very precise Guillaume Marchand at the helm. A launching pad which allowed the organization of conquering balloons, which allowed him to register a good old double of families. But beyond these trials, Marchand also stood out for his activity in the rucks and several interesting stints in the line.
Called to hold the barracks alone by virtue of the absences on injury of Couilloud and Pélissié, the former Toulousain acquitted himself of his task hands down. As an experienced leader, Doussain managed to infuse his pack with additional desire and aggressiveness, lending him a hand in his privileged sector of defense. But he also distinguished himself in the offensive organization of the game, even having the luxury of a personal try “à la Kelleher” on an 89 five meters from the line, cleverly taking advantage of a call from Tuisova necessarily mobilizing for defenders…
He was one of the few active Springboks fielded by the Bulls and he was one of the few among his own to hold his rank. Solid under high balls despite his small size, he cracked a try on a solo interception from 70 meters. Always dangerous with the ball in hand, he was logically preserved in the 60e by its staff anxious to preserve its nugget in a day without a collective.
The flops
He had been little used by the Bulls since the start of the season, and we better understood why. Placed at the opening, Goosen was only a shadow of the player he was once at Racing, much closer in any case to the face he wore during his light stint at MHR a couple of years ago. If his kicking game is still as high and powerful, in terms of inventiveness and speed, time has unfortunately taken its toll…
Like Goosen, the veteran (39 in May) has had more glorious times. At fault several times in the ground game, the former Springbok hooker evolves (logically) light years from the incredible player he was, to the point of being dominated even in the showdown by the Lyon melee.
- The wounds of Lambey and Regard
During this almost perfect evening, the Lou had the misfortune to lose two executives in the first period: the second line Félix Lambey (shoulder) and the center Thibaut Regard (hip), forced to join the locker room earlier than expected. Too bad the two players, locker room managers and guarantors of Lyon’s identity, had brought during this start to the match.