The bells ringing the end of the match above all resonated like the gong of a new KO. A Easter Sunday. One day of disillusionment, one more, for the Stade Français, which, beaten on its field by a Toulouse stadium lighter version (21-27), lambine in twelfth place in the ranking, equal points with Perpignan, barragist, and will have to fight firm to win its maintenance in Top 14. With, to start, a derby of anxiety against Racing 92 (11th) Nanterre.
This frisquet and rainy Sunday of April, it was however one evening that had the flavor and the colors of the final stages. From this duel between the bottle -class class of the best promotion of the championship and poorly barred Lourds, the chopped pumps with crampons, the sparks sprained abundant. Everything was gathered for that.
With the first place, a Jean-Bouin stadium full to crack (19,580 spectators) and spitting fire to welcome the teams. An enclosure in large part garnished, it is true, by Toulouse supporters, or not in the capital. An hour and a half before kick -off, they had welcomed the coach of the Red and Black players under the vasts and the smoke bombs.
A scathing 17-0 cashed from the entrance
Enough to stitch in the spot, if it was necessary, the men of Ugo Mola, who, however, did not risk losing their leader’s chair in the event of an uncontrolled slide on the Parisian synthetic lawn. These young talents, led by a single holder of the XV of France, the hooker Peato Mauvaka, captain for the occasion, started foot in the floor. In less than a quarter of an hour, they had already scored two trials by their third line Léo Banos (3rd) and their three-quarter Center Paul Costes (14th). With the flawlessness of their Argentinian opener Juan Cruz Mallia, the Toulousains therefore completed this first round on a scathing 17-0 (14th).
The merit of the soldiers of Paul Gustard is alone in their reaction. Touched, but far from drowning on this well -watered lawn, and despite the yellow card inflicted on their third Roman line Briatte for high tackle (10th), the Parisians took the head of the water in two stages. Building on their more powerful, more perforating pack, they have, by their incessant strokes, makes their opponent vacillate.
The opener Louis Carbonel, taking advantage of a numerical superiority (yellow card inflicted on Santiago Chocobares for high tackle, 22nd) then Romain Briatte, at the conclusion of a victorious Maul, allowed the French Stadium to return to the race (14-17, 32nd). The Mano A Mano remained undecided until the time of play. Afterwards, the speed of the Toulousains ended up using the Parisians, too dispersed, taking the test too much by Juan Cruz Mallia (64th, 14-27) and finding their old enemies, these doubts that hold them.