Stade Toulousain: “It’s a treat…” why this match against Montpellier (20-11) was a big first for two Toulouse players

Anthony Jelonch finds his smile again

“I’m all fired up to get back into it.” It was with a big smile that the Gers native commented on his big comeback on Saturday. He had been sidelined since last January, due to a new rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. Eager to get going, Jelonch played his first minutes of the season on the GGL Stadium pitch.

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And the least we can say is that he hasn’t changed anything in his way of playing. Big bulldozer-style strikes and devastating tackles… The international didn’t have the slightest apprehension.

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“It was an important moment for him emotionally speaking, to come back after such an injury,” explained Jean Bouilhou. “He had no fear, we saw him commit 100% as he knows how to do and I think he is happy with his return. In any case, we at the staff level are. He put in, like the whole team, a lot of commitment.”

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Jelonch did Jelonch and he admitted that he didn’t feel like he was struggling physically… Before adding with a smile: “I was fine… Well, maybe it’s because it was a match where there wasn’t much running, where there wasn’t much rhythm,” he joked.

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Naoto Saito, tried and tested

On the bench during the first two matches and replacing Paul Graou, the Japanese player was lined up from the start for the first time this season against Montpellier. And the least we can say is that he did not disappoint. Always close to the rucks, quick ball releases and a subtle gap-taking that surprised Montpellier and led to the winning try scored by Ange Capuozzo… Naoto Saito showed that the Stade Toulousain scouts had – once again – been right in betting on him.

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Having only arrived in Toulouse on 2nd August, the Japanese international has done everything he can to integrate into the Toulouse squad as quickly as possible. With a perfect command of English, he returned a week before his teammates to familiarise himself with his new environment. “I think the staff and management are doing their job well. If they got Naoto back, it’s because he has enormous qualities,” commented Pierre-Louis Barrassi. “He arrived before everyone else this summer to prepare a little more, he is very diligent, rigorous and he brings this Japanese culture. He has adapted well, he likes to stick to the ball, so it’s a pleasure to play with him.”

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On the coaching side, we are also satisfied with Saito’s performance. Jean Bouilhou also took his hat off to him, recalling that playing scrum-half at Stade Toulousain is an additional pressure, because he is the one who is responsible for the game. “He is an intelligent player. He understood very quickly how we play. It is never easy for a 9 to play at Stade. He integrated very quickly into this system with his qualities of fluidity. He is a player who sticks to the ball, who brings drive, speed to the game. And we saw that as soon as there is an opportunity around a ruck, he can seize it too. He is able to read what is happening and if there is a shot, he will do it.” A good omen for the rest of the season.