2023-06-17 08:00:00
Dulin in history, the Toulouse records, La Rochelle on its 31, the double of Mr. Trainini…: the stakes and the anecdotes of the long-awaited shock.
Where to watch the Top 14 final
The clash between Stade Toulousain and Stade Rochelais is broadcast simultaneously by France 2 and Canal +. The encrypted channel, which broadcasts the entire Top 14 season, will however take the air from 6.30 p.m. (match kick-off at 9 p.m.) for a long pre-match with insider reports and analyses. The final can also be followed live on lefigaro.fr, with expert comments from Alban Conejero.
Stade Rochelais as a regular in the finals
Five finals (out of six possible) in three years. The Maritimes have undeniably become the stronghold of French and European rugby. Since 2021, Grégory Alldritt and his teammates have reached the last act of the Champions Cup three years in a row. A defeat against… Stade Toulousain in 2021 (17 to 22). Then two triumphs against the Irish province of Leinster, beaten 24-21 at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille in 2022 and, again, a month ago (27-26), this time on hostile ground, in Dublin. In the Top 14, Stade Rochelais lost in the final in 2021, 18-8, again beaten by Stade Toulousain. Here they are back at the Stade de France. For another ending?
Brice Dulin to go down in history
The international back (36 selections) from Stade Rochelais will play, at 33, his 7th personal club final (his 3rd in Top 14 – he was not on the score sheet with Racing 92 in 2018 and 2020 – , in addition to his four in the Champions Cup)! If successful this Saturday evening, Brice Dulin would enter a very restricted circle, that of players to have raised the Brennus shield with three different clubs (after Castres in 2013 and Racing 92 in 2016 as far as he is concerned). For the moment, there are only four in this pantheon: the center or winger Marcel Baillette (with Perpignan in 1925, Quillan in 1929 and Toulon in 1931); center then third line wing Arnaud Marquesuzaa (with Racing in 1959, Lourdes in 1960 and Montauban in 1967); the three-quarter center Maxime Mermoz (with Toulouse in 2008 and 2019, Perpignan in 2009, and Toulon in 2014); the pillar Yohan Montès (with Paris in 2007, Toulouse in 2008, 2011 and 2012, and Castres in 2018).
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Toulouse bete noire of La Rochelle
Last January, by finally dominating Toulouse, 30 to 7, the Rochelais put an end to a series of nine defeats in a row against their pet peeve! Including three in the elimination phases: the Champions Cup and Top 14 finals in 2021, then, in 2022, in the French championship play-off: 33-28 at the Ernest-Wallon stadium in Toulouse.
21 to… 0
On the hexagonal prize list side, there is no comparison between the two contenders for the Brennus shield. Stade Toulousain is playing its 30th final of the French championship this Saturday evening in Saint-Denis (a record of course). And aims for a 22nd coronation (another record). Stade Rochelais does not have the same service record. The Maritimes are only playing their second championship final (after that of 2021) and have never lifted the Brennus shield before. They were also unfortunate semi-finalists in 2017 and 2019. If Stade Rochelais were crowned at the Stade de France this Saturday evening, it would become the 31st club to put its name on the list since the first final, in 1892.
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Double for the referee
Tual Trainini was chosen by the FFR to referee the last act of the Top 14 season. The 38-year-old man in black was already on the whistle a year ago for the final between Montpellier and Castres. A rare double, underlined Franck Maciello, the DTN of Arbitration. The latest was Jérôme Garcès (2018 and 2019).
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