Stade Toulousain and Union Bordeaux-Bègles (UBB) meet in the Top 14 final this Friday in Marseille. Uncertainties over the team compositions add spice to this already explosive confrontation.
Toulouse without Baille, Lebel uncertain
Stade Toulousain will have to do without Cyril Bailleoperated on after a serious ankle injury during the semi-final against La Rochelle. Rodrigue Neti is expected to start in his place.
Matthis Lebel, despite progress, remains uncertain for the match. The Toulouse staff prefers to play the cautious card.
Emmanuel Meafou out, adjustments in sight
Emmanuel New will not be present, still recovering after a torn hamstring in the Champions Cup.
The pair Arnold-Flament will therefore be returned to the second line. The absence of Lebel and Meafou could impact the composition strategy of the Toulouse substitutes bench.
Suspense around Tameifuna and Jalibert in Bordeaux
In Bordeaux, the possible presence of Ben Tameifuna et Matthew Jalibert ignites discussions. Initially forfeited, rumors suggest they could ultimately be aligned. Their return would be a huge boost for UBB, with Tameifuna in the scrum and Jalibert manning the attack.
Bluff or reality?
Some think that the UBB could play on uncertainty to destabilize Toulouse. If Tameifuna et Jalibert are aligned, this could change the situation and strengthen Bordeaux’s chances of winning the Brennus Shield.
A final like no other
This match at Marseille Vélodrome stadium has a particular flavor, especially for Antoine Dupont. The Toulouse captain experienced difficult times with the French XV: a red card against South Africa in November 2022 and a maxillo-zygomatic fracture against Namibia during the World Cup. These bad memories make this final even more symbolic for Dupont, who finally hopes to ward off fate on this pitch.
With team compositions still unclear and key players potentially absent, this Top 14 final promises suspense and twists and turns. The choices of the staff will be crucial for the outcome of this clash highly anticipated by supporters of both camps.
Marco, with him, you feel each match as if you were in the stands, the tension, the excitement, the joy of the big days. He has this unique way of telling matches, making you vibrate to the rhythm of the oval ball. Marco is our storyteller, the one who knows how to transform a match into a legend.
