For the first time, he watched a European final at Stade Toulouse on television.
Winner of the first four continental titles of the Rouge et Noir as coach, Guy Novès, 67, this time attended from a distance on Saturday the coronation of Antoine Dupont and his partners against La Rochelle (22-17).
A success which shows the ability of this group, already champion of France in 2019, to transcend itself according to the former coach of the XV of France.
What made Stade Toulouse so strong in this final?
GUY NOVÈS.
Their consistency in performance and their belief in themselves. In the first period, La Rochelle dominates, but misses a bit. It is a team in the making, which comes from afar. Toulouse was champion two years ago, it's a group that knows its strengths. They know how to put their backs when things are not going well, then produce flashes that allow them to make a difference. These matches, you have to win them, and not necessarily be beautiful. Afterwards, there is also this high tackle from the center of La Rochelle (Editor's note: Levani Botia, sent off in the 28th minute)… It is unacceptable to do that in 2021, he knows very well what will be behind. I wonder if guys don't have bells in their heads sometimes. It can be engaged by going 20 cm below, the result is the same.
Did the #FamilleST sleep well?
🥰
For us the night was quite short 🤭🤪
🎥 Relive the highlights of the final of @ChampionsCup 🔽 ⭐🏆 pic.twitter.com/vRzGsuh4EQ
- Stade Toulousain (@StadeToulousain) May 23, 2021
Toulouse had not won the European Cup since 2010. Is this an anomaly for such an institution?
Toulouse has never disappeared from the European Cup, apart from one season (
Editor's note: in 2017-2018
). We must admit that the others are working, the others are progressing. It is not more "logical" that Toulouse is there more than another. It is the result of enormous work. Ugo Mola (
Editor's note: the Toulouse manager
) did not succeed by snapping his fingers, it shows that we must leave a little time so that people can work well. Afterwards, Toulouse won a somewhat bizarre European Cup this year. The Saracens were in the garage (
Editor's note: demoted to the English second division
), it was modified by the Covid, Toulouse won on the green carpet against Exeter ... The path has been special, but the fifth star is there.
Read alsoHow Toulouse won its 5th star
Will this title further boost the maturity of the Dupont or Ntamack generation?
We get the impression reading their statements after this match that they have achieved their goal, but winning a first European title will make them want to win others.
Appetite comes with eating.
On Saturday, they were able to look for resources in difficult times and were aware that they could have lost this match.
The next time, they will come back to the field by being European champions, but also by knowing the path it took to get there.
When you were a manager, you said that the European Cup-Top 14 double was almost impossible to achieve.
Do you believe them capable of doing it?
In 1996, we made the double because the finals were very far from each other (Editor's note: Toulouse had been European champion in January). Let's imagine that Toulouse are forced to play their Top 14 final next Saturday, it would be almost impossible to win given the state in which they finished their match against La Rochelle. There, I think they are capable of it, because they have points ahead in the league and will have time to regenerate and recover some players before the final phase. I don't know if the Toulousains will be champions of France, but they will be able to play their chances greatly.
