Who, Ugo Mola or Ronan O’Gara, will be able to taunt his opponent? This Sunday, Stade Toulousain welcomes La Rochelle for its first home game (9:05 p.m.). The remake of the last Top 14 semi-final appears to be one of the first shocks of this start of the season. And there is no doubt that Haut-Garonnais and Maritimes will engage in a merciless war.
During their last confrontation in Bordeaux, Thomas Ramos’ teammates took advantage of two exclusions (that of Uini Atonio and Reda Wardi) to win (39-23) and advance to the final. Asked on Friday about this match that has become so special, the Toulouse full-back preferred not to mention these two incidents. “The red cards they received, no one asked for them on our side. So, we don’t have to comment on that,” said the best scorer in the history of Stade Toulousain, at a press conference. “Our duty is to focus on ourselves, our discipline, our match, what we want to put in place. The rest and the incidents on their side, that’s their business.”
“He who loves well, chastises well”
Stade Toulousain, double reigning champion of the Brennus Shield as well as the last Champions Cup, and Stade Rochelais, winner of two “European competitions” in the three previous seasons, are now competing for almost all the titles. In a season where all points can count or allow for a breather before the final phase, this clash on Sunday promises to be crucial, but it will also mark the reunion between Ugo Mola and Ronan O’Gara.
“Personally, it can make us laugh from time to time. Afterwards, it’s their way of working, certainly, for both of them. Within the group, we don’t talk about it a lot with Ugo (Mola). But as they say, those who love well, chastise well”, smiles Thomas Ramos. “So maybe at the end of their career, they will find themselves on vacation and go away for a week together. They will have something to tell each other nice things about.” We’ll have to see first, what “nice things” the two managers will be able to tell each other on Sunday evening.
- RMC Sport
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