Top 14 – How Toulouse intends to stop its series of setbacks at Hameau

The ability of the Mola gang to export is no longer in doubt: at the start of the season, the Stade is also the only elite team to have won two away victories for a nice nest egg of ten points, already.

However, Pau is a land that is no longer successful for the Rouge et Noir. The reigning French champions remain on three defeats as short as they are frustrating at the Hameau: 13-9 in November 2023, 26-16 in September 2022, 27-22 in February 2022. Laurent Thuéry and his team have kept each of these in mind. last road trips: “The problem, each time, is the team we face: a team which puts a lot of pressure, which has a clear strategy, made up of high balls and turnovers giving rise to counter-attacks, evokes the technician. It’s a team that knows how to undermine the opponent and is very competitive at home.” Rowing (51-29), Stade français (30-16) and CO (33-26) saw this to their cost this fall, leaving Béarn without even a bonus: “Against Castres, they performed very well with a first period marked by a lot of intensity. The Palois are very strong up front, they deserve a lot of respect.” And this despite all their absences within their pack. Facing them in their den requires commitment and application to match: “We will have to hit a lot, go up hard, tackle low, bring down the opponent, lists Léo Banos. It’s up to us to be aggressive in everything we do and try to string together playing times. That can bear fruit.”

“We’re going to use versatility”

For the occasion, the Stadium will have to do without the services of Romain Ntamackwhose tactical-technical mastery would have been valuable: “It’s the 7th day and there is already damage everywhere, continues Laurent Thuéry. You have to adapt, that’s the key word. We are going to play on versatility, something important to us. We have confidence, this is not the first time we have done this. Whoever the players are lined up, we will have to show character and a beautiful face.” It will be Juan Cruz Mallia, a very credible alternative, who will take on the 10th. For the weekend’s mission, the presence of Jack Willis on the pitch is certainly good news given the Englishman’s contribution to the ground game. is likely to reverse the pressure: “In winter conditions, we know the importance of rucks. This is an area to check off. Jack has this big strong point, which he worked on a lot during his English training. He is very strong, very flexible, takes up space quickly and knows how to resist pressure. Then he has the right character.”

It will take a bit of all that to oppose the Palois who, like any elite team, are preparing to play their best show of the season at home with the arrival of the Toulouse tenor. Léo Banos and his partners are preparing for this context that they know: “We know that when they play Toulouse, the opponents want to show themselves and give 200%. Which means that no match is easy.”