The Rochelais showed themselves to be far too undisciplined to be dangerous against the Toulouse who had rather mastered their subject. Two red cards (Atonio, Wardi) and a cataclysmic exit from Brice Dulin on the La Rochelle side. Among Toulouse, Ramos and Mallia were very valuable.
Notes from Toulouse: Mallia and Ramos in great form
15. Thomas Ramos 7.5/10
He walked on water in the first period, sparking several counter-attacks adorned with classy gestures (what a blind pass in the 25e !), without forgetting a sublime 50:22 from the 6e. Less visible with the ball in hand thereafter, he nevertheless stood out with a decisive save in front of his line (58th). Effective against the posts with a valuable 5/7 (15 points scored).
14.Juan-Cruz Mallia 7.5/10
Bleeding on his first ball, scoring on his third where he finished well in a corner, he made himself, as usual, as available as possible. He even scored a double in the 48the, winning his duel against Brice Dulin for the second time. The only downside is that the ground supports are not always effective (two penalties conceded).
13.Santiago Chocobars 6/10
Used to penetrate the middle of the field, the Argentinian had a match without any particular brilliance until his murderous counterattack on Brice Dulin (52e) in the form of a definitive turning point in the match. No major errors to report otherwise.
12.Pita Ahki 4/10
Hit in the adductor muscles in the European Cup final, he made a more timid return to competition than usual, with only 5 balls touched and only one tackle made. No doubt still a little embarrassed, and logically replaced at 74e by Paul Costes..
11.Blair Kinghorn 6/10
Opportunistic author of the first Toulouse try during the yellow card of his opposite Nowell, on which he skillfully recovers a pass from Dupont. However, he seemed less comfortable than at full-back, like this forward who wasted a testing opportunity (44e), or this forward pass which annihilated a Mauvaka achievement (46e). Replaced at 74e by Lebel, who only needed one ball to score.
10.Romain Ntamack 7/10
Authoritarian under the first candle of Dulin, he aggressively attacked the advantage line on the few balls he touched, rather successfully. Never really targeted in defense by the Rochelais, on the other hand he considerably hampered the Rochelais with his dismissals. Author of a brilliant pass at the foot for Lebel, who enhanced his performance.
9.Antoine Dupont 8/10
Faced with the heavy La Rochelle templates, he knew that his ability to carry the ball could pose big problems… And if he had a little waste (inevitable, on XX balls touched), the Toulouse captain delivered the trifle of three passes decisive, in intelligently negotiated closed sides. His kicking game and his defense were, as often, demonic. Symbolically replaced in the 79th by Paul Graou.
8. Alexandre Roumat 7/10
His technique and dexterity with the ball in hand are worth gold in the heart of the Toulouse forward cells, which he runs to perfection. Also valuable in the air, where he recovered a dismissal (40e) and especially hampered the La Rochelle lineup in the second half, despite conceding a penalty.
7.Jack Willis 5/10
Faulty on a maul where he does not understand the referee’s communication, which earns him a logical yellow card (37e) immediately exploited by the Rochelais. Used somewhat in the wrong way, with no less than 11 balls touched for 43 meters covered. Replaced by Josh Brennan (64e), not always in the right tempo.
6.François Cros 5/10
In the absence of Meafou, he knew that he was going to be put to the test by the La Rochelle mauls. Less sovereign than usual in the ground game and in defense, he will owe himself a personal revenge in the final.
5.Richie Arnold 4/10
He knew he was in the sights of the refereeing body after his return from suspension and he held his own perfectly, since he made no mistake. As a corollary, his contribution to the fight was less, despite a pair of good stints. Replaced by Piula Faasalele at 50ewho made his contribution to the building.
4.Thibaud Flament 7/10
Systematically requested by Hastoy’s dismissals, he fulfilled his task rather well even if he sometimes put himself in danger. A taste for risk which was confirmed in the 42nd, since he was the victim of the tackle which earned Uini Atonio a red card.
3.Dorian Aldegheri 5/10
His game was a suffering, started during the warm-up by a wound on the skull which caused him to come out between the 10e and the 14e, and to alternate between headphones and headbands. The hidden reason for his indiscipline (3 penalties conceded)? Who knows… However, he did his job in the scrum, replaced in the 58the by David Ainu’u who proved decisive in his first scrum (58e).
2.Peato Mauvaka 6/10
Solid in conquest, he did not have his usual success in the running game, with a lead on a big Toulouse highlight (7e) and one test refused (46e), while he was perfectly supporting his three-quarters. Replaced at 53e by Julien Marchand, sanctioned five minutes later with a yellow card when Reda Wardi was pinned.
1.Cyril Baille 5/10
His first challenge was to channel the power of Uini Atonio in melee and he succeeded perfectly. Not always well connected with Flament under the referrals, without much consequence, he unfortunately seriously injured his ankle in the 49the. Replaced by Rodrigue Neti, who rose to the occasion.
La Rochelle notes: Dulin and the Atonio – Wardi pillars are expensive
15. Brice Dulin : 2/10
A match to forget. Well placed under kicking receptions, the ex-Racingman suffered, to say the least, in his defense. A tackle is missing on Ramos (23e), then on Mallia twice, on his line on the Argentinian’s try (30e), and five meters away on the Argentinian’s second try (47e). A kicking game blocked by Chocobarès (53e), which results in the fourth attempt. Replaced by Scalvi (65e)
14. Jack Nowell : 3/10
Recovers well from an interval shot from Ramos (15e), but the Englishman is rightly punished with a yellow card (22e) for a big foul on his goal line. Replaced by West (73e).
13. Master Sergeant : 3/10
He definitely doesn’t know how to defend Romain Ntamack. The Samoan tried to use his speed offensively but never managed to make a difference.
12. Jules Fabre: 5/10
Ten tackles in a single half! The one who “stolen” the place from Danty at the end of the season, once again delivered a very good performance. Replaced by the former Parisian at 50e.
11. Dillyn Leeds : 4/10
The South African didn’t have much to chew on. He remained stuck on his wing. Tried not to get caught in defense.
10. Antoine Hastoy: 4/10
A good start to the match, impeccable on his kicking game (4/4), good recovery but a little too timid in attack, where he didn’t try much.
9. Kerr-Barlow distance : 3/10
A clearance directly into touch on the kick-off which will have the consequence of allowing the Toulouse residents to open the score. Another unscrewed kick (29e), the New Zealander did not seem to be in his right mood. He started the second half with another imprecise kicking game. Too slow to release the balls on the rucks, he did not drive offensively. Replaced by Berjon (65e)
8. Gregory Alldritt : 5.5/10
A timid start to the match, but a sharp intervention on La Rochelle’s second try which he concluded. He does the job in defense (12 goals). Replaced by Tanga (72e)
7. Oscar Jegou : 5/10
Good ball catches when he was targeted but he couldn’t get past the few times he had to carry the ball. Replaced by Haddad (65e)
6. Judge Cancoriet: 5/10
Good tackles, even if he can’t do anything on Kinghorn’s try (22e). A forward on the Toulouse goal line (38e), but also a good ball catch in touch.
5. Will Skelton : 6/10
A big presence on mauls where his physical impact both defensively and offensively brought real added value. He didn’t get caught in defense on his strong tackles. He moved forward every time he carried the ball.
4. Rémi Picquette: 4/10
Forward on a referral (19e), he brought his weight into the rucks but was not active enough in the running game. Replaced by Colombes (44e), which managed to bring dynamism.
3. Anthony Wins : 3/10
A percussion that puts Cyril Baille (12) on the buttockse). Big tackles but also a tackle too high on Flament (43e) rightly punished with a red card.
2. Third Day : 6/10
Penalized for a ground foul (2e), with a precise throw then good positioning, he is at the conclusion of the La Rochelle test (11e). He scratches a ball on Dupont, very important (16e), then another (25e). A very good start to the match, polluted by a gross foul which led to Toulouse’s second try (30e). A good recovery on the following return. Replaced by Lespiaucq-Brettes (51e)
1. Reda Wardi: 4/10
Rather well present in closed melee, his headbutt is unacceptable at this level, whatever the provocation suffered.
