At a press conference, Stade Français rugby director Laurent Labit returned to the reasons for his team’s second defeat in three matches.
What happened against RCT on Sunday evening?
In the first half and despite good energy, we lost the battle of the kicking game, whether in penalty shootouts or in terms of occupation. The Toulonnais were more pragmatic than us. […] At the moment, we have a lot of problems against us: injuries, disallowed tries… So we’re going to keep our heads down.
Your coaching paid off in the second act… It helped give Stade Français some punch again.
It’s part of the strategies we use. The moment seemed important to us: we needed more power with Yoan Tanga or Tanginoa Halaifonua, more precision on foot, also with Zack Henry. When they came on, we started the half well. But the disallowed try (to Paul Gabrillagues, Editor’s note) and the points dropped along the way (by Louis Carbonel, Editor’s note) ultimately weighed heavily in the balance.
Also read:
Top 14 – Stade français ratings – Toulon: Jean-Baptiste Gros conqueror, Louis Carbonel’s nightmare
What is missing to regain last season’s success?
We still give away too many easy balls. This was the case in Bordeaux, then against Vannes and again on Sunday evening, against Toulon… Let’s not make excuses: there will be better days.
Against Rct, you once again had some problems in the closed scrum. Is this a problem?
It doesn’t worry me. And then, when we are good in the scrum, we are not rewarded, so… We just need the elements to turn, concerning us.
: “We’re going to keep our heads down” after the defeat against Toulon){kind=link}