Seven friendlies after five months of famine: French rugby timidly resumed Friday, in a context clouded by the resurgence of Covid-19 cases, and Toulouse and Bordeaux-Bègles, guided by Thomas Ramos and Matthieu Jalibert, enforced the hierarchy against a Pro D2 club. Spectator gauge maintained at 5,000 people until the end of October - with the possibility of prefectural exemptions - cluster at the Stade Français which had to cancel its match, like Carcassonne (D2) after the discovery of a positive case in its workforce ... French professional rugby hoped for a better economic and sporting context for its return to the field, three weeks before the resumption of the Top 14 and Pro D2.
In stadiums dotted with spectators and with a strict protocol, the main thing for the coaches was to be able to play, and not to see the infirmaries fill up after 5 long months without matches. Toulon, who had spared his three stars of the pack (the South African world champion Eben Etzebeth, the captain of the XV of France Charles Ollivon and Sergio Parisse), saw two of his international half-backs injured without serious: the opener Anthony Belleau (back) was replaced prematurely by Louis Carbonel and scrum half Baptiste Serin (knee) ended the match against Grenoble (38-38) with a limp.
UBB outclasses BO
Toulouse avoided this risk by leaving the number 1 hinge of the XV of France at rest, composed of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack. This allowed Thomas Ramos to shine as a scorer against Béziers, the old glory of the championship exceeded in the Hérault (43-21). Leader of the Top 14 before the final end of the season, Bordeaux-Bègles also outclassed an illustrious Pro D2 club, Biarritz (48-12). The opener Matthieu Jalibert, N.2 behind Ntamack in the list of coach Fabien Galthié, showed himself to his advantage in the management of the game.
The threat of Covid-19 still hangs like a sword of Damocles over the clubs. Two members of the Oyonnax Rugby squad have thus tested positive and the match their team was to play in Nevers, another ProD2 team, on August 20 was canceled, the Ain club announced on Friday.
Results of the first preparatory matches:
Friday
In Béziers, Béziers (D2) - Toulouse 21-43
In Hyères, Toulon - Grenoble (D2) 38-38
In Montauban, Montauban (D2) - Colomiers (D2) 17-33
In Tulle, Brive - Valence-Romans (D2 ) 36-12
In Agen, Agen - Castres 5-7
In Biarritz, Biarritz (D2) - Bordeaux-Bègles 12-48
In Lourdes, Bayonne - Pau 19-33
Read also
- Sanctuarized bubble, no shower at the stadium ...: the strict conditions for the resumption of rugby