After eleven years, Stade Toulouse is back in the European Cup final. Toulouse defeated Bordeaux-Bègles (21-9) in the semi-final, Saturday 1er May, and will try to win a fifth European coronation in three weeks, at Twinckenham (London).
Used to major continental meetings, the Toulouse Stadium suffered, in wet conditions, to enforce its rank against the Girondin novice, whose preparation had been disrupted in recent weeks, with eight Covid-19 contaminations identified within its workforce.
Gironde coach Christophe Urios hoped that this health twist would allow his group to ” strengthen ties “ and Union Bordeaux Bègles effectively stood up for a long time before breaking up at the end of the match on a try from the inevitable Antoine Dupont (21-9, 72e minute).
🏉 🏆 Magnificent test of three-quarters of Toulouse with the inevitable Antoine Dupont at the conclusion for relegation … https://t.co/X4TmjznKKd
Unusually feverish and nervous, like its captain, Julien Marchand, Toulouse nevertheless stammered its rugby in the rain in the first period (8-6 at halftime).
A Franco-French final?
Despite the fifteenth try of the season by his young winger Matthis Lebel, at the end of the line after a good tap from Maxime Médard (5-3, 6e minute), and the return of the sun in the second act, this Franco-French semi-final will not go down in the annals of the European Cup in terms of play.
In a concert of approximations and escaped balloons, the Toulousains made the least bad score to go for the final after winning on the grounds of Munster (40-33) and Clermont (21-12) in the previous rounds .
A nice birthday present, on his 22nd birthday, for Romain Ntamack, whose match in the match was eagerly awaited with his French team competitor Matthieu Jalibert, not always rewarded for his initiatives.
Opposed Sunday to the Irish province of Leinster in the second semi-final, La Rochelle will try to join the Toulouse in the final, scheduled for May 22 in the London stadium of Twickenham, with the public.
