a classic French stadium-Toulouse stadium that will not have the flavor of yesteryear

Toulouse is the favorite against the Stade Français on Sunday, at the end of the thirteenth day of the Top 14.
Toulouse share favorite against the French Stadium on Sunday, at the end of the thirteenth day of the Top 14. REMY GABALDA / AFP

"The duel of the Stadiums" is it always a dream? The question deserves to be asked as the match between the Stade Toulouse and the Stade Français is far from the summit that it was still little in the French rugby championship.

“We were eighth last season. They are fourth this year, we are last. There is no photo. " In a press conference, Julien Arias, the Parisian three-quarter trainer, was frank when he spoke of the gap separating the two clubs which have long fought against each other for the title. The 2010s passed by, with their share of disappointments for the French Stadium as for the Toulouse Stadium.

While the two most successful teams in the French championship (20 for Toulouse, 14 for the Stade Français) have often battled for the title since the return to the high level of the Stade Français in 1998, this rivalry has faded in recent years , leading to the emergence of new shocks within the Top 14.

If this classic of the XXIe century no longer has the flavor of yesteryear, it is also because the two clubs have not been doing well in recent years, with the notable exception of the title 2015 won by Parisians and that of 2019 won by Toulouse.

Above all, the dynamics have now completely reversed. There is almost no match between the two teams: in the last twenty games, the Toulouse have won sixteen. Sunday evening, when it is stuck in the last place in the ranking, the club of the capital therefore has more worries to worry about than the Capitol club, in full renaissance.

Parisians in difficulty

The French stadium is indeed in last place when it has one of the largest budgets in the French championship since its takeover in 2017 by Hans-Peter Wild. The arrival of the Swiss entrepreneur after an aborted plan to merge with Racing 92 has still not allowed the club to return to the final stages of the competition since their coronation in 2015.

This last place could however be nothing but a sham within a moving Top 14 and in full reconfiguration. In question, the World Cup in Japan, which ended on November 2, allowing the workforce to be complete only after the eighth day of the season.

At the Stade Français, the return of the internationals and the appointment in the fall of the duo formed by Laurent Sempéré and Julien Arias at the head of the team – two former players on the pitch a few months ago – did not however still allowed to bring the new breath expected. Since November, Gaël Fickou's teammates have only won two defeats and an encouraging draw against Montpellier last week.

Toulousains in good shape

While the Stade Français seems to be going through one of the worst passes in its history, Toulouse, its longtime rival, confirms its renewal. The Toulouse stadium has come a long way after a 2016-17 season received with as much violence as a fuss in the face. For the first time in the professional era of rugby, one of the capitals of Ovalie did not qualify for the final stages of the championship, finishing the season in twelfth place.

After this slap, the Stadium has reinvented itself to turn the page of the Guy Novès era, which started in 2015 after winning ten titles of champion of France. Toulouse wasted no time in raising their heads, raising the Brennus Shield again last year. If the Ugo Mola team is no longer as sovereign as in the Novès years, it remains undefeated in the European Cup and has not lost since October 19 against Montpellier (33-22).

Midway through this season, Cheslin Kolbe and his team (fourth) are likely to qualify for the finals after the championship. A walk statistically still achievable for Parisians twelve points from sixth place, but which seems illusory as the first part of the season is painful for the moment.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here