François Cros will celebrate his 31st birthday in 3 months. Still far from retirement, the flanker has nevertheless seen Stade Toulousain launch his possible successor into the deep end of the Top 14 since the start of the season. Arriving from Stade Montois this summer, Léo Banos is part of the Toulouse team expected in the third row.
Before traveling to Lyon to close the 12th day of Top 14, the Landais spoke about his start to the season at a press conference. In front of journalists, he spoke about the start of the season where he has already started 7 times in 13 matches. He will make his eighth appearance from the start in eastern France, this Sunday, December 22.
RUGBY. Top 14. Léo Banos admiring a teammate at Stade Toulousain (and it's not Dupont)
François Cros? “It’s impressive”
Thus, he explains thathe notably had the opportunity to get closer to the role of François Croswhen the latter was at rest for example. “I've done a lot and I'm very happy to have played so much since the start of the season. I had the opportunity to compensate for the absences of François Cros, it's a bit the same style as me”, adds the 22-year-old flanker.
Subsequently, the former Mont-de-Marsan player develops this comparison between the game of François Cros and his own: “He is often defined as a shadow player. I identify a bit like that too. Even if when I try to come out of the shadows a little, it's not so easy. When we look (François Cros) playing, it looks easy. He is clean in everything he does. He is impressive.”
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Léo Banos, a place to take
Trained at Stade Montois since 2016, Léo Banos joined the Stade Toulousain squad this summerbut had already known the Seven Deniers for a few years. Red and Black supporters had already been able to see him during the doubles in previous years. He had filled the absences of the internationals during the 2023 World Cup and the last VI Nations Tournament.
Linked to Stade Toulousain for several months already, he stayed with the Abeilles while he completed his training. At Stade Montois, Léo Banos was used to playing in a playful team. After this perfect appetizer to launch his Toulouse adventure, he now wants to move on.
From now on, the player from Commensacq aims to play as much as possible in order to win at Stade Toulousain. Under contract until 2027, the third row should benefit from significant playing time, given the international absences of the holders in his position. Last year, the young Mathis Castro-Ferreira took the opportunity to burst onto the screen. Will Léo Banos be able to do the same?
VIDEO. The moving sacrifice that Castro-Ferreira had to make to go to Stade Toulousain
