The match however resembled the biggest posters of the European Cup: a clash against the rival Stade Français, dressed for the occasion in a jersey struck by lightning, like that of the final of the Heineken Cup 2004-2005, won after extra time by the Toulousains (18-12) against the capital's club. But it was "only" from the Top 14 on January 5, and Ugo Mola’s men confirmed their struggles of the day, largely losing 30-18. "Our basic collective signals are not up to what we are capable of doing", dropped the Toulouse coach, worried.
At the end of the first matches, the champions of France are at the door of the Top 6, which gives access to the final phase of the championship. Nothing crippling in a very close competition, Montpellier, 6e, is only a point ahead and La Rochelle, 4e, three units, less than a win away.
Nothing like it, however, a week later, on the European scene. In difficult climatic conditions, between wind and humidity, at the Connacht Irish, Toulouse validated its ticket for the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup (21-7). With 5 wins in 5 games, 22 points obtained, Europe is much more suited to Romain Ntamack's Toulousains.
The picture is similar for Clermont, an unhappy finalist against Toulouse in the Top 14 last year. In the championship, the Jaunards are not up to their rank: 8e with 28 points, two less than Toulouse, zero bonuses collected and some outside pants as against Bordeaux-Bègles (42-15), Toulouse (34-8) and Toulon (41-19). And the last two losses occurred after the end of the World Cup in Japan. While in the European Cup, despite a setback against Ulster, the Auvergne were already assured before their last match – won Saturday against the Harlequins 26 to 19 – to finish first in their group. In six games, they took 24 points, including four bonuses.
European perfume awakens Clermont, which still runs after the most prestigious coronation in Europe despite three disputed finals. “When you face a team like Toulon or Toulouse, it’s a little bit like facing Ulster. Only the context is different. In Top 14, you play big games every week and it gets a little bit the same ”, advanced in an interview with the regional daily The mountain Nick Abendanon. If the rear did not participate in the English epic in Japan, concluded by a lost final against South Africa, weariness can also lie in wait for the sequence of matches: between the 2019 final of the Top 14 , mid-June, and the resumption of training for Clermont, it only passed four weeks. And about as much before the first day of the Top 14.
No room for error in the European Cup
The Champions Cup and the Top 14 are two competitions with very different approaches. The European Cup is very selective: in the group stage, only the first in the five groups is guaranteed to qualify for the quarter-finals, accompanied by the best three runners-up. A poor performance is the qualification is compromised – even more the home quarter, reserved for the best first. Faced with English or Irish teams, the game is also different: more lively and faster. The actual playing times – where the oval ball is played – are superior to the Top 14: almost three minutes more.
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Conversely, the Top 14 is more like a marathon, with the regular season at the end of which almost half of the clubs, 6 out of 14, reach the cleaver matches. And the example of Castres in 2018 shows that even a team finishing sixth can raise Brennus' shield at Stade de France. Especially since the Top 14 is very undecided and a good series at the end of winter can put the favorites back on the front of the ranking. So the point is to put all your strength into the group battle, before focusing on the championship. Especially since the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup only take place the first weekend in April.
On the condition of not being surprised with the new period of duplicates, which penalizes the big stables. After the eight days of championship disputed during the World Cup in Japan, and the internationals will multiply the round trips with their selection during the Six Nations Tournament. Toulouse lost 13 players due to the World Cup, nine others were called in the list extended to 42 players of the new coach Fabien Galthié. The champions of France are also handicapped by the suspension for four weeks of their Australian opener Zack Holmes. The alternatives, Sébastien Bézy or Tristan Tedder, are not regulars of the position while big games are preparing, like Bordeaux-Bègles or Racing.
Dominate the Top 14 or Europe, you have to choose. LOU and La Rochelle, ahead of Clermont and Toulouse in the championship, did not manage to get out of the pools. The European light is even weak for the Lyonnais, yet second with a comfortable mattress of 44 points in the Top 14. A year after their first disastrous attempt, concluded with a zero score, the men of Pierre Mignoni only won a victory this season and have even sunk in Italy against Treviso, who had not won the European Cup in five years.
"It's like in Star Wars, the Jedi and the Padawan … at one point the Padawan supplants the Jedi. Give us lessons but enjoy it, it might end up one day ", Lyon front coach David Gérard promised on Rugbyrama after the first match, an honorable 13-6 defeat against Leinster, the ogre of Pool A. Le Lou has yet to revise his bases in the Top 14.
