TOPS
The number 9 of the French team was decisive on each of his team’s tries (31-17 victory against UBB) and showed his talent once again, as always. Difficult to find how to qualify the performances of the player trained in Auch as the matches of genius follow one another again and again. The Toulouse metronome launched his team to victory by scoring the 4th try for the reds and blacks to complete a score without any false notes. The standing ovation he received when he came off in the 73rd minute speaks volumes about his importance on Sunday night.
We could have mentioned the performances of Arthur Retière, Jack Willis or Dorian Aldegheri but we preferred to retain the Toulouse collective. Whether it’s Arnold in touch, Roumat and Cros in defense or Akhi, Ntamack and Ramos in the restart, Ugo Mola’s players have shown superiority at all levels in practically all compartments of the game. When Toulouse plays like that difficult to stop them. After the failure in the Champions Cup, the Stadistes seem launched towards the objective of the Shield of Brennus. The first stage is validated since they have officially qualified for the semi-finals.
FLOPS
The French international center is not experiencing the same success this season as the previous one. After a difficult Six Nations Tournament, he continues in his line by offering a negative copy. He has to dictate his team’s pace in attack, which he struggles to do. In the second half, the Bordelais did not have many attacking balls to play, which explains why we saw very little of it. Pita Akhi in front of him was well above in the duel between the two numbers 12.
The UBB opener was confronted at international level with a very good Romain Ntamack in front of him. Little in sight in the game, it was difficult to find him and rely on him in the attack balls or in the game on foot. Replaced by Jalibert before returning to the field following the injury of the usual holder (who was making his return) he also showed himself to be in great difficulty in defense against the red and black waves which were breaking in front of him.
Discipline, conquest, elements that the teams have trouble mastering against Toulouse and which are the essence of the game. UBB first had a lot of trouble in the scrum with penalties conceded or broken arms… A lot of faults in the ground game were committed by the visitors which cannot allow them to win a match against their opponent in the evening, even by playing and playing well. Bad choices were added in the second half to a recipe that did not take and left a bitter taste for Bordeaux.
