When substitutes get a standing ovation when they go to warm up, it’s already that they have something special. For a few moments, the Ernest-Wallon public lost interest in what was happening on the lawn to celebrate those who were snorting outside. “Finishers”, as the Blues coach Fabien Galthié likes to call them, exceptional: Baille, Marchand, Cros, Dupont, Ntamack, the backbone of the XV of France. “It was the chef’s surprise,” smiles Antoine Dupont. We knew that depending on the face, we could go in even if we didn’t expect to all go in at the same time”.
An XXL sideline, which allowed Stade Toulouse to defeat Lyon (24-19), also reinforced by their winners from England. Beaten four times in their last five games against Lou and heckled for a large part of the meeting, the champions of France and Europe took advantage of the return of their tricolor executives, largely involved in the winning try. A ball from Cros, a breakthrough from Ntamack, a relay from Dupont, a charge from Marchand and in the end, it was Thomas Ramos who flattened with an angry hand.
Toulouse repositions itself for the final sprint
But beyond the pleasure of seeing the heroes return to their neighborhoods, Toulouse has confirmed its upturn. Winners of the first two Montpellier and Bordeaux-Bègles in recent weeks, Ugo Mola’s men have limited the consequences of their very bad pass of seven defeats in a row, in all competitions, at the start of the year. With this success, here they are back on the podium as we approach the final sprint and the return of the European Cup.
“It’s the LOU, it’s a big team. Until the end, it was very complicated, underlined Julien Marchand at the microphone of Canal +. We’re coming back here, we’ll have to work again and not rest on our laurels. There are not many games left, we will have to hang on if we want to finish among the six. »
TOULOUSE-LYON: 27-19
Half time: 16-9
Toulouse : essays by Ro. Arnold (4th), Mauvaka (9th), Ramos (73rd, 78th); penalties from Ramos (16th, 40th+2, 57th).
Lyon : Couilloud test (47th); penalties from Sopoaga (7th, 20th, 35th, 44th), conversion from Sopoaga (47th).