I am especially disappointed. Frustrated, too, not to have scored at the start of the match, or on the two or three additional opportunities from which we benefited. We didn’t have many. The match was hard, it was too hard.
What disappoints you?
Paradoxically, I am extremely proud of the behavior of the Section players, in front of this full stadium, with this communion between players and public. This terrible strength was not enough against this Toulouse. We would have had to optimize several small details so that it was simply hard, and that we had one more point.
Did individuals like Willis or Dupont make the difference?
Yes, it helps. We were treated to a masterclass from Jack Willis and a good match from Antoine. As per usual. But that’s good, we want to play at a very high level. Which was the case this evening. It was a big Top 14 match. But you don’t train with so much determination and determination to lose matches.
“To be able to beat this Toulouse, you have to optimize your highlights. We didn’t do it enough”
What do you remember from this big battle in the ground game?
We spent a lot of energy, we contested five balls. We were rather brilliant. But we were also challenged, we lost two or three. In any case, it was very fierce on the rucks. It’s an interesting learning experience. By being at this level over the 19 remaining days, we will deserve to win matches.
We have the impression that Toulouse stifled your offensive play…
It was a match of terrible intensity, with 40 minutes of effective playing time and very high level players opposite, with enormous intensity in the races, length in the kicking game. It goes unnoticed, but Dupont-Mallia-Kinghorn is 3 km of cumulative kicking. It’s hard, and when it’s been hard, we haven’t always been precise. Like our covers on the 2nd or 3rd curtains. We lack precision on 2-3 shots which cause us to lose meters easily. Faced with this Toulouse, the 30 or 40 m that we lose each time cost a little too much in terms of energy.
Do you feel like you’ve been racing behind them?
From the moment they score from the start, yes. Even if we have a good 20 minutes in the first half, we ultimately reward ourselves little. Then at the start of the second period, we have a real highlight which materializes with a forward from Théo after a carried ball which collapses without any advantage for us. We camp in the opposing camp without scoring. It’s hard. To be able to beat this Toulouse, you have to optimize your highlights. We haven’t done it enough.
How to fix it?
Maybe we need to defend fewer touches. And therefore make fewer mistakes in the midfield. Fewer balls are needed to defend. Our forward pack was decimated by injuries, we made a lot of adjustments by changing the lines. I believe terribly in our men and in our work; We will quickly be much better. This is the temporary price to pay for these many changes. Many players are returning from injury, like Capelli or Sénéca. When we have all the automation with a well-stocked front pack, we will be robust in this sector.
Is the diagnosis the same for your scrum?
Yes and no, because paradoxically, our scrum allowed us to start the game. It was better in the second half. But I’m not going to speak hotly. You need to review the images to be precise. In any case, the pressure from Toulouse at the start of the match was a factor that did not put us in a position to advance. So it’s up to us to work hard, collectively, to provide better performances.
Offensively, did you regret the lack of rhythm during the runs?
Yes. Afterwards, once again, it was a very high level match. Indeed, we could see that the people of Toulouse were waiting for us as a priority in the first phase. They absolutely wanted to prevent us from setting the rhythm and quite succeeded.
In this sector, has Toulouse’s efficiency surprised you?
Surprised, no. Because it’s the big trademark of Toulouse this season. They are the first Top 14 team on counter-rucks, by far. We expected that. But we were there on a few counter-rucks too. It was high intensity in the ground game, but not everything was against us. We were dominated, but we also contested a lot of balls. Even if Toulouse was better than us. Let us therefore have the ambition to continue to grow. And above all, let’s learn. Because if we perform 19 times at this level on the ground game, once again, we will deserve to win matches.
In financial terms, does this first setback at home put you under pressure?
Yes and no. Would there have been euphoria if we had taken a point, or two, or four? For my part, no. We have 15 points in 7 days. This championship will still be very tight. Every point will count. What puts pressure on us is not taking anything. Afterwards, there are still two games left before the end of the block review. What makes me optimistic is that the men of the Section played at a very high level. What disappoints me is that they lost.
What does this try against Daubagna inspire you, which perhaps arrives a little late at the end of the match?
This means that the Section is dangerous when it carries the ball. When they play with a little momentum, they are capable of being one of the best teams in the Top 14. That’s encouraging. Now, it comes late because we couldn’t accelerate on the first rucks, like in the first half. And I remain a little disappointed, upset, with our departures in the opposing 22m. At this level, each entry (in the opposing 22 m, Editor’s note) must be paid for. Unfortunately, we were not able to do so. We could have taken points against this Toulouse, but we would have had to be very precise.
