Sixth day of the Regional 1 Ligue Occitanie championship, Pool 2 offered a poster between the leader and his runner-up. At home, Toulouse Electrogaz Club (2nd, 18 points) had just scored four successes, including the latest on the lawn of Rugby Club Muretain (27-34). To achieve the pass of five, the Toulouse residents faced the Tarnais of Saint-Juéry Arthès Olympique Rugby (1st, 20 points), also in full confidence after three victories in a row… (By Marco Matabiau/ Photos Alain Montségur)
The match
Starting into the wind, the TEC decided to hold the ball and not part with it. Unfortunately for the Yellow and Black, a restart initiated from their 22 turned against them following a visiting scratch. The opener Roudière deflowered the planchot (0-3, 5th). The Tarnais then made mistakes in defense, starting with illegal tackles. On the second, following a counter orchestrated by Toulouse winger Roche, scrum half Tournier received a yellow card (10th).
Tournier ejects the leather… before being “ejected” himself for ten minutes.
The locals then took advantage of their numerical superiority to invade the opposing camp and, in turn, collect a penalty. Full-back Durand advanced onto the shooting range and restored the tie (3-3, 13th). It's the SJAO's turn to let the horses go (in Percheron mode of course). The powerful third row Laforgue pierced the curtain and put his team in the lead, causing a penalty. Roudière attempted it, but her ball hit the right post (15th).
Scrum half Raynal here performs one of the rare Toulouse kicking plays in the first forty minutes.
A few minutes passed before Armengaud, the Rouge et Vert fullback, tried to find a “50 – 22”. His opposite number Durand prevented the ball from going out, then played the restart with Roche. The duettists progressed to the opposing 30 meters, but the ball was finally dropped (25th). Visiting reply, with a long sequence in which Laur, Laforgue and Delpech caused damage. The gas players, however, stood together and won a scrum before launching a movement on the left. The action aborted when Laforgue tackled the second line Pallme.
On the restart, Laforgue picked up speed. Impending impact.
The two players, affected (flank for Toulousain, shoulder for Saint-Juérien), then had to leave their comrades. Barbier (TEC) and Manso replaced them. The last ten minutes gave pride of place to the scorers from both camps, with varying fortunes. Durand first failed from 30 meters (31st), imitated a few moments later by Roudière (34th). However, the visiting scorer had the last word in this first act when he converted a last penalty from the 40 (3-6, 36th). No more points were scored until the break.
Great aerial fight, notably involving Durand (15) and Delpech (12), for the conquest of the ball.
The power of Saint-Juéry makes the difference
Returning from the locker room, few changes to note, except the entry of Aries in place of Penan at the opening. Unfortunately for him, the newcomer had difficulty getting into the swing of things. Direct touch, followed by a forward on his goal line. 5-man scrum for the Tarnais, in which Tournier opted for the short side. Aussel, however, kept an eye on things and caused an attack.
The TEC had barely cleared when the red and green tide rose again. Ball on the left side, on which Delpech pivoted before serving Salabaraas. In a flash, the third row played with his counterpart Granier to score the first try of the afternoon. Roudière transformed (3-13, 48th).
Salabaraas scores the first Tarn try. Dauriac can only observe.
This is the moment that the Tarn staff chose to make changes. Barrau, Calvel (Hugo), Cabot and Jalby replaced Garcia, Calvel (Arthur), Tournier and Delpech. Just that. However, the machine did not stop, quite the contrary. Cabot quickly played a penalty from five meters and served Salabaraas, who scored his second personal try. Like a true metronome, Roudière added two points (3-20, 53rd). The break seemed done for good. And yet…
Barbier (18) tries to revive the Toulouse mechanics. Laur (also the author of a great performance) is waiting for him.
Faithful to their principles, the Toulouse team continued to play all the balls and obtained a penalty 10 meters from the opposing line. Combination between second row Zurczak and hooker Dauriac. The latter, well served in the corridor, scored in a corner (8-20, 57th). Barely had time to get back into place when the TEC launched a new arrow.
Taken into touch, then escape from Aussel, caught in the 22 by the final defender. Ejected, the ball flew from hand to hand to end up in those of Roche, who scored at the post. Durand succeeded in the delicate transformation. The TEC got back together (15-20, 60th) and could believe in it again.
Cathalo separates himself from the ball before being thrown into touch by Bretot.
Without panicking, the SJAO nevertheless got their hands on the ball again and relied on the power of their forwards, chief among them Schmidt and Salabaraas. Put on the back foot, the defense conceded a penalty which Roudière converted into points (15-23, 64th). It was the TEC's turn to bring in some fresh blood: Raynal, Tricoire and Granier left, Dumas, Hebraud and Penan entered.
As the last ten minutes approached, tempers heated up following a high tackle from Delpech on Roche. Not only did the visiting center three-quarter receive a yellow card, but he was imitated by his teammate Raynal and by Barbier (TEC), involved in the scuffle (67th).
Aries alerts his three-quarter line.
At 14 against 13, Toulouse would have to, as hooker Dauriac requested, “ use their brain“. On the contrary, it was the Tarnais who pulled the chestnuts out of the fire. A trickery restart from Cabot and Dauzats (from their own 22 meters) resulted in a penalty 80 meters further. Taken by Oules, then the hooker Marceau broke the first lock. The door, already shaking, ended up giving way when Schmidt offered himself flush. Test from the second row, again transformed by Roudière (15-30, 75th).
Aussel (red helmet) will do his best to hinder Barrau's progress.
The locals felt that the fate of the match was decided, but they could still come back in the defensive bonus. Attack within thirty meters of the enemy, redoubled by Durand, who was lying on Roche. The latter thought he would score but dropped the ball on contact a short distance from the line (77th).
Penalties were piling up for the Toulouse team, and with that the mistakes were piling up for the Tarn team. Manso received a white card (80th + 1) but his comrades kept their backs and didn't let anything pass. No more points were scored until Mr. Domenc blew his last whistle of the match.
Roche (ball in hands) tried everything to allow his team to snatch the defensive bonus. In vain.
This display between the first two of Pool 2 gave rise to a nice clash of styles. From the outset, the TEC sought to move the game and make its opponents run. If the intention was laudable, the players of Pierre Clanet and Julien Boulouch only too rarely succeeded in putting a perfectly organized defensive curtain in difficulty.
A few missed opportunities prevented the Yellow and Black from sticking to the score more and therefore deprived them of a defensive bonus point which would not have been undeserved. Despite the efforts of captain Aussel and the twirling Roche, Toulouse conceded their second home defeat of the season before, in two weeks, traveling to US Verfeil, beaten this Sunday (17-15) in Saint-Sulpice. la-Pointe.
Toulouse fly-half Penan most often sought to move the play towards the wings.
With this fifth success in six outings, Saint-Juéry Arthès Olympique consolidates its first place in the ranking. Better physically armed, the protégés of François Valat and Marc Da Silva offered great sequences, relying in particular on a second Schmidt – Laur line of high caliber.
Behind, in addition to regulating the play of his team, Roudière was very precise (6 out of 8, 15 points) and combined well with Delpech, a solid anchor point in the middle of the field. After such a performance (celebrated the same evening in Place Saint-Pierre “ At Tonton's“), the Tarnais will be able to calmly prepare for the arrival at the Stade Louis-Rey of neighbors Aviron Castrais, winner this weekend (39-29) in Muret.
The complete ranking
Roudière perfectly organized the SJAO game.
Reactions
François Valat (Coach, SJAO):“We had worked all week with the aim of achieving a result. We knew it was going to be complicated. A team that we had already played two years ago. We knew their playful spirit as well as pragmatism. We were dreading this, and we saw why, because there was a lot of play produced today. We managed to put our qualities and our strengths forward to win.”
François Valat appreciated this success at its true value.
Pierre Clanet (Coach, TEC):“Great team from Saint-Juéry which, on everything that was “collisions” as they say now, was very present. Our players nevertheless put a lot of heart into allowing us to exist. We can score a little more, if only to get a bonus. Proud of the guys’ production even if defeat always makes you complain.”
Disappointed by the result, Pierre Clanet had nothing to reproach his players for their investment.
Thomas Salabaraas (Third line, SJAO):“A very committed, very close match. Up front, we knew how to show self-sacrifice and tighten up to surpass ourselves. We knew how to be aggressive in defense against a great TEC team which produced a lot of play and movement.”
The Tarn third line was very present throughout the game.
Baptiste Aussel (Third line and captain, TEC):“We can be sad not to get this defensive bonus. However, we put in what was necessary. The victory is deserved for them. They were more serious, mature and efficient than us. Annoying because the players give themselves but are not rewarded. It’s up to us to do what we need to do to be successful next time.”
Baptiste Aussel measured, at the end of this match, the work that remains to be accomplished.
Match sheet
In Toulouse (Gammas Stadium): Saint Juéry Arthès Olympique Rugby beatsToulouse Electrogaz Club 30 to 15(half time: 6 to 3).
Arbitration: Mr. Patrick Domenc (Ligue Occitanie).
White cards: at SJAO, Manso (80th + 1).
Yellow cards: at SJAO, Tournier (10th), Delpech (67th), Raynal (67th); at TEC, Barbier (67th).
For the SJAO: 3 Salabarass tries (48th, 53rd), Schmidt (75th), 3 penalties (5th, 36th, 64th) and 3 Roudière conversions.
For the TEC: 2 Dauriac tries (57th), Roche (60th), 1 penalty (13th) and 1 Durand transformation.
