This Friday evening, Stade Toulousain once again demonstrated its supremacy on the pitch of the Marseille Vélodrome by winning the Top 14 final against Bordeaux-Bègles with a clear score of 59-3. This match was marked by impressive individual and collective performances from Toulouse. Coming out of this one-sided finalthe reactions of the two camps were the opposite.
VIDEO SUMMARY. Top 14. Stade Toulousain dazzles Marseille with a legendary performance in the finalAntoine Dupont, the playmaker of Stade Toulousain, spoke with the clarity and serenity that we know him for. We knew the qualities of this Bordeaux team. […] We started very well, with intensity, calm and control too. “, he declared on Canal +. For Dupont, the key to victory lay in the accumulated experience and calm of the team, crucial assets in major events. « We still have a young group but we are starting to have a bit of experience, and a few gray hairs for some. We showed it at the start of the match which was almost perfect. […] It’s incredible for the history of this club. »
I have achieved much more than I could have imagined as a child. You have to achieve, but not too much, to keep the motivation to continue training and winning.
Toulouse full-back Thomas Ramos, who also scored twice, shared his enthusiasm and pride. For him, the victory was the result of collective work and the depth of the Toulouse squad. What to say after a final like that. […] The score is heavy for Bordeaux “, he confided via Sud Ouest. Ramos was keen to salute the progress of his opponents, while emphasizing the determination and cohesion of his own group.
Ugo Mola, the manager of Stade Toulousain, for his part, emphasized the process and the in-depth work that led to this remarkable season. We are having a season beating the best, we will try to enjoy the 2-3 days to come “, he declared on the LNR and Sud Ouest website. Mola, however, remains pragmatic and is already looking ahead to the next challenges for his teamemphasizing the importance of continuing to progress.
This team works deeply so that young guys can flourish. This quest for records, for exploits, is something that drives them. But it still needs to be realized. What characterizes them is that they have never disappointed me in what they committed to do. What I like is the path, the content.
On the Bordeaux-Bègles side, the reactions were tinged with disappointment but also with prospects for the future. Yannick Bru, the UBB manager, accepted the defeat with a hint of resignation. We accept the snub… […] I think we will be better next year “, he said via La Figaro and the LNR website. Bru sees in this defeat a lesson and a driving force to bounce back next season.
Finally, we lost the standoff; we even had our wrists broken under the table. […] It’s hard to compete with a Formula 1 team like that by going through the play-off… To hope to beat Toulouse in the final, you have to qualify directly for the semi-finals, in my opinion. We were outclassed, we weren’t invited today. There are 20 points too many, that’s clear.
Maxime Lucu, UBB scrum half, recognized Toulouse’s superiority while emphasizing the difficulty of the task facing such a team. “ We took tests too quickly. […] We all gave up “, he bitterly admitted to Midi Olympique. Lucu, however, insisted on the merit of the season achieved by Bordeaux, calling not to forget the successes despite this painful finale.
It was complicated… Very complicated. We were told over and over that we were facing a big team. It’s the truth. There’s a class difference between them and us. They have a lot of finals and titles to their credit.
Finally, Nicolas DepoortereUBB center, did not mince his words. We didn’t know how to do anything. […] It’s humiliating, it’s catastrophic. “, he declared for Sud Ouest. For Depoortère, this defeat is difficult to digest but it reflects the reality of the match and the difference in level between the two teams to date.
This Top 14 final was therefore the scene of various emotions, from the heights of Toulouse joy to the depths of Bordeaux disappointment. One thing is certain: Stade Toulousain continues to mark the history of French rugby, while Bordeaux-Bègles promises to come back stronger, galvanized by this experience.
