If the period which opens is still special, with the numerous international players absent, the club intends to approach it again in a very calm manner.
This is definitely a recurring question. Every season, at the same time, Ugo Mola is asked if it is frustrating to see all his internationals leave, called to play in the 6 Nations Tournament. On Sunday, the Toulouse manager responded with a smile: “It's the story of my life as Toulouse coach. It wasn't the story of my life at Brive or Castres, I won't hide it from you. Yes, it's frustrating but I like often say that, if you spend your time complaining about the rules that you know, it is precisely because you have not understood them well. We know them, we have thirteen internationals, perhaps soon more if injuries occur. accumulate and if returns from home come to us.” Despite an ever-increasing contingent of Toulouse residents joining Marcoussis, the Stade staff does not intend to feel sorry for themselves. No time or energy to waste on that. “It's never easy to lose thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen or seventeen of your best playerscontinues Mola. But, once again, the rules are known to everyone. This is the price to pay for having a high-performance team. I try to control the things I have leverage over. There, it doesn't depend on me. It’s like when you get on the plane, you just hope to land once you leave but it’s not up to you.”
No loan players were recalled this week
Toulouse has the habit of lending several young talents in Pro D2 to get tougher. The club retains the possibility of recalling them to Ernest-Wallon during doubles. This has happened many times in the past, even recently. This is not the case this time. The question arose for some, notably the hooker Ian Boubila, given that the first three choices for his position are absent (Mauvaka, Marchand and Cramont) and the choice was made to leave it to Provence Rugby. The Stadistes only have two hookers in the squad for Saturday: Thomas Lacombre and the versatile Malachi Hawkes, who has been fixed this season…right pillar.
Even if, in this case, his team has gotten into the habit of managing periods of duplicates rather well, finishing that of the 2024 Tournament with the best record for example. But the technician also remembers that it was fatal to him in 2022: “It's a great challenge for the club to be able to test itself and experience itself with young players. In any case, we will experience a period rich in lessons. Either our young people will have provided the essentials and we will be able to to play for the lead in the championship, or unfortunately we will not have done what is necessary and we will have to start again when our internationals return. We have already experienced several scenarios.
Mola: “Develop other skills”
In this sense, the excellent score delivered in La Rochelle, where the Rouge et Noir came close to an exploit with an extremely overhauled and rejuvenated formation, is enough to reassure Mola: “We have a very difficult match to prepare against Montpellier. But it also allows us to develop other skills that we have in the squad. Our young people are remarkable in their attitudes and their progress. Sometimes, it's a bit early for them. But what is certain is that the club is not falling apart. Everyone is hanging on and working hard. It remains to make it a reality on the ground. Even if the management must face a shortage in the second line (Meafou and Brennan “protected”, Flament, Elias and Portat injured) and all the more appreciate the return to competition of Richie Arnold this weekend.
-Against the MHR, Toulouse will nevertheless be able to count on Blair Kinghorn and Ange Capuozzo (who cannot be blocked by their selections) to extend the current good dynamic. “It’s a very important moment, so that we are in a good position at the end of the seasoninsists Capuozzo. This is going to be a pivotal period. There is also this challenge for players from foreign teams, like Blair and me, of managing the comings and goings, having the lead at the selection for three days, then coming back and having the lead 100% at the Stadium. It’s a great challenge to take on.” And it (again) starts on Saturday.
Roumat, the stage towards Marcoussis
Recently injured in his hamstrings, Toulouse's Alexandre Roumat notably missed his club's last two matches in the Champions Cup. The third row was thus not from the trip to South Africa, therefore from the victory at the Sharks, then from the historic reception of Leicester on Sunday (the biggest defeat for the Tigers). Beyond that, the former Bordeaux player logically did not appear in the first list of forty-two players from the French XV unveiled by Fabien Galthié to prepare for the start of the 6 Nations Tournament and gathered on Monday in Marcoussis. The coach had even announced the player's withdrawal for the first match against Wales in a week… Had he moved forward a little? Maybe, yes. Indeed, and as was revealed in these columns on Monday, Alexandre Roumat resumed training with his club on Tuesday and he will be lined up this Saturday, against Montpellier. He could even appear in the starting XV. A return to his position all the more important for the Toulouse staff as Anthony Jelonch has joined the infirmary in his turn (see opposite), François Cros is kept with the Blues and Mathis Castro-Ferreira is absent. Above all, if the usual number 8 at the stadium provides the necessary physical guarantees against the MHR, there is almost no doubt that he will be recalled on Sunday to join Marcoussis and claim a place on the match sheet against the XV du Poireau. As a reminder, Roumat participated in three French successes during the last fall tour.
