The shock of the 24th day of the Top 14 on Saturday between the last two finalists of the championship and the European Cup once again turned to Toulouse's advantage against La Rochelle (23-16), neck and neck. elbow in the race for qualification.
To discover
Schedule and Top 14 results
Ranking Top 14
It was the match not to be lost, a taste of the final phase, and the Toulousains, with their international armada at kick-off in a packed Stadium, did what it took to live a little more serenely the last two days.
This sixth consecutive victory against the Maritimes allows the defending champion, sixth, to return to equal points with his favorite victim, whom he is ahead of thanks to their direct confrontations.
Already winner in the first leg (20-16) on the first day, Stade Toulouse seems to benefit on paper from a calendar (Brive and Biarritz) more affordable than that of Rochelais (French Stadium and Lyon).
Despite the stakes, this game between the two best defenses in the Top 14 started off on a very high offensive footing, with two tries in the opening six minutes.
The first for La Rochelle and Brice Dulin, after two judicious kicks from South African wingers Raymond Rhule and Dillyn Leyds.
The second, in stride, for Toulouse and Antoine Dupont, who countered a clearance from Dulin, released in the first quarter of an hour after suffering a heavy tackle.
A breath of fresh air for some, a break for others
Aligned in the third line, the UFO of the Blues Thibaud Flament then engulfed at full gallop in an interval to go flatten and put his people in front.
Long embarrassed in the rucks, the Toulousans, solid defensively, saw the ball more in the second act, without managing to concretize their highlights other than by the reliable foot (5 out of 6 success) of Thomas Ramos.
The Stadium public still had something to give voice to when Maxime Médard entered the game, who announced on Friday that he would end his long career, fully disputed, at the end of the season. under the same shirt.
His teammates will surely be keen to give him a good outing and this success against La Rochelle will make it easier for them.
A breath of fresh air for Ugo Mola's men before going into European Cup mode next week with a trip to Ireland to face Munster in the quarter-finals.
A setback for those of Ronan O'Gara, who will play their place in the last continental four against a slightly less exotic opponent, Montpellier.
