But what is happening at the Stade Touloulain? The reigning double French champion has just chained a sixth defeat in a row in the Top 14 this weekend in Pau against a team however reduced to 13 at the start of the second half. This is a (sad) historic record for Ugo Mola’s players. Never the biggest French club had known such a series for at least 60 years. And the absence of the many internationals selected with the XV of France for the Six Nations Tournament does not explain everything…
“It’s a hard defeat to digest, admitted Jean Bouilhou, assistant coach of Stade Toulousain. It is obvious that we are worried. If we weren’t, we would be blind. We need this concern to help us progress, work, regain confidence and win matches. May it make us find solutions rather than bury us. We must seek revolt, now that’s enough. The Black and Red have not won in the league since November 27. Eighty-four days. An eternity for a club of this standing. At the time, the champion of France and Europe was leader of the classification, with 16 points ahead of the seventh and first non-qualified.
A High-Risk Schedule Ahead
Almost three months later, this lead has melted like snow in the sun. This Sunday, the Toulouse are fifth in the Top 14 with three points ahead of the 7th and a late game. Mathematically, there is no urgency yet but the calendar is scary.
By early April, the Stade will indeed chain a block of four high-risk matches: ahead of UBB, the leader, then at the Stade Français, against Lyon and finally Castres.