The moment to become great again, indomitable, has arrived.
After six months disrupted by the absence of internationals, Stade Toulousain is again (almost) complete.
A five-star workforce eager to rediscover its dominant game, its decisive gestures, its culture of winning.
With Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack as helmsmen, Thomas Ramos as a sniper, the secateurs Jelonch, Cros and Flament, the devastating Julien Marchand and Cyril Baille on the front line, it's a team finally resembling the one that conquered France and Europe last season who will present themselves this Saturday (4 p.m.) at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
Opposite, the province of Munster.
Another juggernaut.
Head to head, the only two teams to enter the quarter-finals of the flagship competition for the 19th time!
Deprived of their Thomond Park lair because of Ed Sheeran's concert, the Munstermen have taken over the national team stadium, 200 kilometers from Limerick.
The M7, which connects the two cities, will be a long procession of supporters, more than 30,000 members of the famous Red Army being expected in the stronghold of the sworn enemy, Leinster.
Read also
Welcome to the South Africa Rugby European Cup
Going red, Stade Toulousain has already done it.
As recently as last season.
A 40-33 success in the round of 16 which, according to its protagonists, had launched their irresistible end to the season.
A year later, can they do it again?
Since the beginning of April, and the effective return of the Grand Slam heroes, the rise in power has been slow.
Only two wins in five games.
But successes that matter.
In Belfast to defeat Ulster in the round of 16 of this Champions Cup.
Against Stade Rochelais to stay alive in the Top 14.
Hit or miss
“We find what we have been lacking in recent months: our collective mental strength to snatch matches in the last moments
, underlines Clément Poitrenaud, the assistant coach in charge of the attack.
In terms of rugby, there are also some interesting things.
It's not yet finished in 80 minutes, but we can feel the team making progress.
The lights are rather green…”
Enough to add a new milestone in the legend of the club?
“The challenge looks complicated.
It goes up a notch in intensity and pressure
, poses the former rear of the Red and Black.
But we really want to win this match, to play a semi-final.
We are preparing for a big fight.
We are going there to repeat the feat of last season.
A feat then snatched in a Thomond Park behind closed doors.
Can they reissue it in sound and fury?
Munster's head coach, Johann van Graan, did not hesitate to mobilize the Red Army a little more.
“The big difference this year will be our sixteenth man.
We rely on our supporters to tip the scales…”
The meeting is given, the challenge immense.
The decisive issue.
Now it's make or break.
The kind of match that wakes up Toulouse competitors.
The taste of blood.
Read also
Didier Retière, former National Technical Director: "We have found a culture of French rugby"
“The more people there are and the noise in the stadium, the more it transcends us,”
recalled Romain Ntamack in the columns of
Midi Olympique
.
The opener did not blink when displaying Toulouse's ambitions.
“We have confidence in ourselves.
We know we can do it because we have already succeeded.
Our objective is not to stop in the quarter-finals.
It's not a lack of humility, we have the right to say that.
We are the defending champions, so we have something to defend.
The competitive spirit.
Champions never satisfied.
Poitrenaud suppresses a smile of satisfaction, but he knows.
His proteges are no doubt back.
“Now it's forward and fire!
We will try to go all the way, ”
announces the technician.
By delivering a key.
Not the defense - his troops will respond - but the attack.
“Our attacking game is a little less effective than last season.
We expect more from our finishers, from our wingers who, when they find themselves in a favorable situation, must reward the work of the team.
You have to start the machine for confidence to return.
To become irresistible again.