At the Stade de France,
They were promised the worst in this final, disputed not even a week after the half, at the end of an extraordinary season, facing an opponent beaten a month earlier but who seemed to have found the keys to upset them. We were wrong. The Toulousains were bluffing of solidity, management and efficiency to stifle La Rochelle this Friday and win the Top 14.
“The less day off made us think differently,” explains coach Ugo Mola. We had to be innovative. We ran for a week with more strategy and less energy and training than usual. “Understanding, recovery above all and in-depth video sessions, especially to understand the many things that had not worked despite the victory in the Champions Cup final against the same Rochelais in May.
All this was reflected on the field by a perfect control of the tempo of the match and the spaces, while committing very few mistakes. Then, Stade Toulousain recovered at the foot of Thomas Ramos, impeccable substitute for Romain Ntamack. Those who had come to see Antoine Dupont’s last magic trick were not in the right place.
“We had a fairly reductive game at the start of the match, and we were able to take the score from the start. Even when they came to us, we had an impeccable defense. It did us good, says the scrum half Rouge et Noir. We knew the opponent very well, we knew their strengths but also ours. We were confident about our game, we didn’t invent anything, just got serious. “
The second double in its history for Toulouse
The rain, which began to fall heavily at the break, reinforced the title holders (in 2019) in their plan. “We have shown great maturity, appreciates François Cros. Even if the second half was not the best, it was the right thing to do given the conditions. It is said with the small smile of one who knows that anyway, no one will hold back the way. On the other hand, everyone will be talking this Saturday morning about the pretty Toulouse double.
“It’s something incredible, we do not really realize, takes the third line. We set ourselves the goal of not being satisfied with victory in the Champions Cup. It’s been a very long, very hard season. You have to appreciate. It’s rare, a double. The club knows the value, since despite his record he had achieved it only once, in 1996. He had missed the march twice since, in 2003 and 2008.
“The party is going to be insane! “
“Honestly, it seemed utopian at the start of the season,” says Dupont. And now that we’re there, it’s hard to realize the greatness of what we’ve done. It is very important for the history of the club. His trainer couldn’t be more proud. “It’s the victory of a sensational group, so much the guys absorb everything, work without counting, do not balk for nothing, assures Ugo Mola. There isn’t a time when they say no to me when I ask for more. I am fortunate to have an incredible generation and players who allow Stade Toulouse to continue its incredible history. “
This Saturday, the party will be beautiful in Toulouse. Fifty-eight weeks after the start of this season which will have been “hell” (dixit Mola), with 11 players operated on and a dozen or so fractures to heal, the team has well deserved it. “After more than a year of competition without ever really stopping, we find ourselves making a double, it’s crazy, loose winger Matthis Lebel. The party is going to be insane! “Right next door, Antoine Dupont is ready to leave his last strength there. “In these cases, they are on their own,” he laughs. And I’m sure the guys will be less tired tomorrow than the day after the usual matches. »The doubled effect or the holiday effect? Both, of course.