Stade Toulousain will not succeed in passing four in two seasons.
Champion of France and Europe a year ago, the club gave up its continental crown by losing (heavily) against Leinster in the semi-final of the Champions Cup last Saturday (40-17).
But all is not lost.
There is still this shield of Brennus to defend.
To be retained for the third year in a row (2019 and 2021, no title in 2020).
To discover
Schedule and Top 14 results
Ranking Top 14
For this, the data is simple.
Toulouse is currently in 6th, and last, qualifying place for the finals.
With 62 points on the clock, the Rouge-et-Noir are in the fight with LOU (63 points), La Rochelle (62) and, even, Toulon (59).
Four for two sesames.
To ensure his, Toulouse knows what he has to do: win at Brive this Saturday (and against Biarritz in two weeks at Ernest-Wallon).
So no time to procrastinate.
We must evacuate the disappointment of elimination, not ruminate on the lesson inflicted by the Irish, and start again.
A mantra hammered into the still smoking entrails of the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
“
The season is far from over.
You have to start again with the banana.
(…) We are not going to let go.
We are going to remobilize 100%
,
”
promised the captain, Julien Marchand.
This was confirmed by winger Matthis Lebel.
“
In the locker room, at the end of the match, the whole group got together and we said to ourselves that we had to quickly switch and move on to the Top 14. We don't have time to procrastinate.
»
“We are old enough to question ourselves.
»
Peato Mauvaka
A few days later, these promises seemed to be kept.
“
I'm not in their head, so I find it difficult to assess.
But with the experience acquired in recent seasons, they are able to remobilize quickly
, hopes Virgil Lacombe, the assistant coach of the forwards.
The staff is there to support them in this way.
We just want them to realize the importance of this game.
In view of the concentration, I hope it will work.
There is everyone's desire to quickly erase the disillusionment of this semi-final.
And it's an advantage to change competition to bounce back.
»
Hooker Peato Mauvaka, who extended his contract with Stade Toulousain this week, also wanted to be reassuring.
“
We are old enough to question ourselves.
We switched well because we have something to defend in the Top 14. We know we have to win at Brive if we want to be one of the six at the end of the (regular) season.
Above all, do not doubt after the 40 points conceded in Dublin.
“
There is no point in dwelling on bad things.
Everyone is fully for this end of the season
, ”dismisses Julien Marchand.
Brive has not played since April 30
Deep in the heads.
But in bodies?
“
The season is starting to be long for some
, recognizes Virgile Lacombe.
We favored larger recovery beaches this week.
And playful rugby so that they find pleasure in playing.
But we can't deprive ourselves of working on the base.
Especially since the adversary is on a mission.
CA Brive, 12th, needs a victory at home to ensure its maintenance in the Top 14 without going through the final box of accession.
“
It's a decisive game for their end of the season as well,
supports Lacombe.
Both are at stake.
Which promises a difficult match against a very combative opponent.
“And fresh since the Brivistes have not played since April 30.
The coach gives the key to success: “
we need to regain confidence and efficiency, relying on things that we know how to do well.
»
