Stade Toulouse wanted to regain its leading position against LOU, but the commando mission failed. At the end of this twelfth day of the Top 14 2024-2025, the reigning French champion had to be content with sharing the points on the Gerland pitch (17-17). In this first draw of the season in the Top 14, it is probably the Lyonnais who can have the most regrets in this game after leading by seven points at the break. Ultimately, Leo Berdeu's imprecision in the second half cost the locals two points. The consequences in the ranking are clear: Toulouse officially leaves its leadership seat to Union Bordeaux-Bègles, while LOU leaves its place as play-off to the detriment of Pau and rises to eleventh place.
This was not the expected result for both Stade Toulouse and LOU, but both teams will have to get used to it. In the capital of Gaul, the title holder did not show a sufficiently conquering face to dictate his law against a combative Rhone collective. On paper, many Toulouse executives such as French internationals Thomas Ramos, Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, François Cros and Thibaud Flament were able to breathe with fourteen changes compared to the last Champions Cup match against Exeter. But in fact, Toulouse did not make the necessary efforts to seek a ninth victory in the league this season.
One Ntamack can hide another
From the first minutes of the match, the defending champion showed collective shortcomings. If Blair Kinghorn failed to open the scoring on a penalty (5th), Leo Berdeu started better on the foot (8th, 3-0). In response, the visitors reacted with a converted try from Paul Graou (10th, 3-7). Capable of the best and the worst, the Toulouse residents showed too blatant indiscipline to allow Berdeu to take two penalties (19th, 9-7). Just before the break, an error of judgment by Ange Capuozzo led to the try of his compatriot Monty Oiane (40th, 14-7). Under pouring rain, the Rhone XV could then imagine a prestigious victory at the end of a controlled second act.
But this happy ending proved too complicated for the LOU. If Davit Niniashvili found himself very close to flattening in the goal (42nd), Berdeu widened the gap to offer ten points difference to the Lyonnais (50th, 17-7). It was from this precise moment that the machine stalled, and Toulouse was able to benefit from it. Kinghorn was precise at the foot (60th, 17-10), then Steve Blanc-Mappaz's yellow card resulted in Théo Ntamack being flattened at the end of a powerful regrouping. With Kinghorn converting, Ugo Mola's men snatched the equalizer (65th, 17-17). The rest is a succession of failures for Berdeu (67th, 76th) and a LOU who may regret his lack of realism.
