It's time for the dress rehearsal.
This Sunday evening, at around 9 p.m., Racing 92 and Stade Toulouse will meet for a first clash before their hot round of 16 of the European Cup, on April 7.
And even if the 46 players will undoubtedly be different, nine Toulouse and six Racingmen currently being requisitioned by their national teams for the Six Nations Tournament, this meeting should already be rich in lessons.
Especially since Antoine Dupont, who is not participating in the tournament to prepare for the Olympic Games with the French 7s team, will be there.
“We obviously see this match as a foretaste of the Champions Cup match because no matter which team is lined up, we will still face Toulouse, with the same playing system and the same DNA,” underlines second row Boris Palu.
However, there is no question of already having our eyes turned towards the month of April.
“We must not forget that we are undefeated at home, that we are first in the championship, so if we can give ourselves a little margin to avoid a play-off at the end of the year, we will take it,” continues the man with two selections for the French team.
And that will involve a victory against Toulouse on Sunday.
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For five years, Racing 92-Stade Toulouse have often booked spectacular and close matches.
But the Ile-de-France residents often came out as losers.
March 5 is the best example.
After a meeting of rare intensity, with 10 tries scored, the Racingmen finally lost by four small points (35-39).
“All the matches that Toulouse plays are spectacular,” remarks Tristan Tedder.
Against Ulster, they scored 7 tries, against Bath they took the bonus too.
It will be up to us to try to control what we can in the match and concentrate on ourselves.
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Also read: Owen Farrell at Racing 92, is this really a good idea?
“Our matches against Toulouse were often very open”
According to Boris Palu, the key to the match lies above all in keeping the ball, to avoid offering counter-attack opportunities to Toulouse as much as possible.
“Our matches against Toulouse were often very open because we tended to get into this game which Toulouse really likes, this counter-attack game which favors beautiful rugby but which smiles on them more often because it is their ADN, regrets the one who was born in Toulouse, before growing up in the Paris region.
This is what we will try not to do.
We won't be particularly more careful but we will try to keep control of the ball.
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With the absence of internationals Thomas Laclayat, Cameron Woki, Nolan Le Garrec, Antoine Gibert, Gaël Fickou and Will Rowlands, Stuart Lancaster had to adapt and select several young players.
Martin Meliande, starting at the opening, will participate in this gala match, just like Maxime Baudonne.
A rotation prepared and appreciated by the English coach.
“I really like the Six Nations period because it allows us to integrate young players into the team,” he assures.
This Friday, we had 41 players in training, around fifteen trained at La Défense Arena for the first time.
It's good for their development and it offers great opportunities to those who play less, which is very positive.
» Now it’s up to them to seize them.
Team compositions
Racing 92:
Tedder - Arundell, Klemenczak, Chavancy (cap.), D. Taofifenua - (o) Méliande, (m) Le Bail - Kolisi, Lauret, Diallo - Poloniati, Palu - Nyakane, Chat, Kolingar.
Substitutes: Tarrit, Ben Arous, Hemery, Baudonne, Hall, Saili, Spring, Kharaishvili.
Toulouse
: Kinghorn - Retière, Guitoune, Ahki, Capuozzo - (o) Mallia, (m) Dupont (cap.) - Placines, Roumat, Willis - Fa'asalele, Arnold - Laulala, Cramont, Neti.
Substitutes: Boubila, Mallez, Brennan, Banos, T. Ntamack, Barassi, Graou, Merkler.