2024-05-05 18:14:54
“We know where we are going to set foot. » Barely the semi-final finished, and the victory against Harlequins confirmed (38-26) this Sunday, May 5, Antoine Dupont was already looking ahead to the terrible final against Leinster at the microphone of France Télévisions. Stade Toulouse and its five Champions Cup crowns against the Irish province and its four titles, a “star war” between the two best teams in the world which already smells like gunpowder. And which should attract the crowds on May 25 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The two teams know each other perfectly. Since 2018, they have gotten into the habit of facing each other on the European scene. And the results are not favorable to Toulouse residents. Beaten in the last four confrontations, the Stadistes were even crushed during the 2022 and 2023 semi-finals (40-17 and 41-22). The psychological ascendancy is therefore in the Irish clan.
“This team has a lot of appetite”
Especially since the international matches could also weigh, as both teams are full of internationals. In the Leinster XV this Saturday against Northampton, we find twelve members of the Irish team which won the 2024 Six Nations Tournament last March. The French team, second, was made up of nine members of the Toulouse XV this Sunday. And the clash between the two teams also turned in favor of the XV du Trèfle (17-38).
This finale still promises to be epic. Because Antoine Dupont and his teammates, in search of a European title since 2021, are aiming this season for a third Champions Cup-Top 14 double, as in 1996 and 2021. “This team has a lot of appetite, they want to mark their history and his time at Stade Toulouse, assured coach Ugo Mola before the semi-final. For the moment, it’s not bad, but they have not yet marked the history of the club like certain generations. »
“We’re going to think about this final every day”
A title would take them into a new dimension. But it is far from being acquired. Because Leinster is having one of its best seasons, including two victories against the double title holder, Stade Rochelais. On April 13, in the quarter-final, the meeting between the Irish province and the Maritimes even turned into a spanking. Completely overwhelmed, Grégory Alldritt’s teammates took to the water and conceded five tries (40-13), giving Toulouse a taste of the fury that awaits them.
However, the Rouge et Noir are used to finals, and rarely lose them. In seven Champions Cup finals, the Stadistes have won five, only beaten in 2004 by Wasps and in 2008 by Munster. A statistic that Ugo Mola recalled at the microphone of France Télévisions: “We are going to challenge our ogre, a team that we have difficulty beating, but we have never played them at this level and apparently, we are difficult to beat in the final. »
The feeling of revenge could also be an asset, after the two consecutive losses in the semi-finals of this same competition. “It’s final is a great poster, we’ve been ticking it off for a while,” recognized Romain Ntamack. We remain with two heavy and frustrating semi-final defeats. Everyone will obviously want to be there. » A feeling shared by Thomas Ramos: “We will think about this final every day. »
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