The first against the second. A certain tension between supporters. The shock of the Stadiums, this Saturday at 3 p.m. for the 10th day of the Top 14, smells good of the old clasico of the 2000s, when Toulouse and Paris shared the titles of champion of France. The trajectories of the two clubs have however radically changed since then, the Rouge et Noir remaining at the top when the Soldats Roses vegetated. But it is nevertheless the Parisians who remain on two victories in a row against the Toulouse ogre last season (28-29 on February 11 in Toulouse and 23-16 on March 6 in Paris).
Can Gonzalo Quesada’s players pull off the three pass? They have, in any case, again the advantage of challenging the leader without its stars. No less than nine Toulouse internationals are indeed retained with the XV of France which plays a few hours later against Australia. Dupont, Ntamack, Ramos, Jelonch, Flament, Baille and Marchand will start with the Blues, Mauvaka replacing, Lebel in the stands. On the Parisian side, only one, Sekou Macalou, is on the score sheet. Pillar Clément Castets, a former Toulousain, was released to his club after a week in Marcoussis. This greatly relieves the Parisian staff.
“There is no right or wrong time to face them”
“We are happy to have Clément, he will play on Saturday, announces Laurent Sempéré, coach of the Parisian forwards. Fortunately because we still had breakage this week in the workforce. Bluff or not, the Stade Français coach is not happy about the absence of the typical Toulouse team. “There is no right or wrong time to face them. Toulouse is still a very big team, he adds. They are very solid on the fundamentals, they advance and gain the advantage line, and are very dangerous in their transitions in the attack phase. »
And a little vindictive too after these two defeats? “Last season, we didn’t think about it at all, assures Sempéré. We especially remember our disappointing ranking, not our two victories against Toulouse. We prefer to focus on us this season, not on the external circumstances. “In front, they still have a big team, and behind that holds up too. They are first with nine points ahead. Last year we were lucky to win at the very end, ”recalls Mathieu De Giovanni, who was snatched from Toulouse at the last minute on a penalty from Segonds.
Toulouse records the return of its centers Pierre-Louis Barassi and Dimitri Delibes, who had spent the week in Marcoussis. Which consoles the Toulouse fans a little. On social networks, these are sometimes chambered by Parisians who are delighted to face the plucked Rouge et Noir again, when they come out of a successful month of October (3 wins, one defeat with bonus). “We had a block of ten capital games (the Top 14 then take a two-week international break), we are doing well, recognizes Laurent Sempéré. But we know that we end up with the most thrilling poster. “The one that recalls the finest hours of the Stade Français.
MATCH SHEET
Toulouse – Stade Français, this Saturday (3 p.m.).
Toulouse : Delibes – Tauzin, Barassi, Guitoune, Epée – (o) Nanai-Williams, (m) Graou – Youyoutte, Roumat, T. Ntamack – Meafou, Arnold – Aldegheri, Cramont, Neti (cap.).
Replacements: Boubila, Duprat, Merkler, Tolofua, Page-Relo, E. Retière, Costes, Faumuina
French Stadium : Hamdaoui – Tui, Ward, Arrate, Ahmed – (o) Seconds, (m) Grape – Briatte, Habel-Küffner, De Giovanni – Pesenti, Gabrillagues (cap.) – Melikidze, Peyresblanques, Castets.
Substitutes: Panis, Kakovin, Van der Mescht, Scelzo, Hall, Barré, Delbouis, M. Alo-Emile.