Stade Toulouse did not do well for its last match in the group stage of the Champions Cup. The European champions defeated Leicester on Sunday at Ernest-Wallon (80-12). The Tigers could however hope to take second place from their opponent of the day by winning but there was never a match.
With the offensive bonus in their pocket before the half-hour mark, Ugo Mola's men put on a show, scoring six tries in the first act (42-0) and as many in the second. A demonstration which allows them to receive their round of 16 but not to finish at the top of group 1, a position validated a little earlier in the day by the Union Bordeaux-Bègles.
When a team is not invited to a rugby field, the result is very often clear. Leicester displayed a competitive starting XV this Sunday at Ernest-Wallon, fielding confirmed players such as double world champion Handre Pollard, Argentina captain Julian Montoya, or England internationals Jack van Poortvliet, Ollie Chessum and Freddie Steward. But all these CVs did not carry much weight in the balance of a match which was never one.
Once Toulouse started the game, the Tigers were unable to do anything. A helplessness which could even be seen on the face of Handre Pollard, who was maneuvering a drifting ship during the first half and who no longer knew how to lead the game to avoid immediate punishment.
Like Toulouse's second try, generated by a restart from Romain Ntamack from 22 meters and concluded less than a minute later by Dimitri Delibes after an irresistible and inexorable advance from Haut-Garonne (15th). Or even on the fourth when Ange Capuozzo, untenable and author of a double, left his business card with five opposing players (21st).
-A Flament masterclass
From Emmanuel Meafou to Jack Willis via Thomas Ramos and Antoine Dupont, most Toulouse residents were able to shine and have fun. If we had to choose only one, Thibaud Flament would however be the one as the second line, also a double scorer (46th, 72nd), capable of playing after him and providing permanent support in addition to ensuring in the more traditional tasks of his position, has been stratospheric.
For him as for the entire Toulouse contingent expected in Marcoussis tomorrow, the dose of confidence is enormous with switching to 6 Nations Tournament mode. There was obviously no question for them of letting UBB, also the author of a card this Sunday against the Sharks (66-12), the honors of the most impressive team of the day.
For an offensive bonus escaped the previous week on the ground of these same Sharks, Stade Toulouse was not able to claim to finish first in its group and ensure that it reached the semi-final. But with the level he displays, any opponent other than Bordeaux or Leinster does not seem able, to date, to worry him.
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