the essential
The Toulouse Rugby players will challenge those of the capital club this Sunday, December 29, as part of the 13th day of Top 14. The last match of the year 2024, which will be held at the Stadium.
Soyaux-Angoulême manager Alexandre Ruiz is not known for mincing his words. Although he himself is a former referee, last year he was the author of a muscular outing against Evan Urruzmendi, who was in charge of his team's match against Grenoble on March 29, 2024 (Pro D2 It is this same referee who is officiating this Sunday evening, December 29, in charge of the game for the meeting between Stade Toulousain and Stade Français (9:05 p.m. 13th day of Top 14).
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“We had two three-minute sequences where we constantly advanced, and I don’t know how or why we never benefited from the slightest advantage,” complained Alexandre Ruiz, in comments notably relayed by Rugbyrama. “Yes, it’s frustrating,” conceded the Charente manager who feared his team’s relegation.
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He let out all his frustration in a long tirade: “I'm going to try to stay nice but it won't last long. Ruiz, he's nice but he has character. Ruiz, he also has a family to feed and a club to maintain, then he's not going to shut his mouth.”
“I never speak hotly”
What he criticized the referee above all was a decision at the very end of the match when the match was extremely close (21-18). “On the last maul, there is a change in connection from Grenoble’s second line which seems clear to me,” explained the manager. However, he had managed to contain himself so as not to let his anger explode in the official's locker room.
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“No, I didn't go there. I never speak in the heat of the moment. Just at the end of the match, I still told him that it wasn't worthy,” he explained again.
Soyaux-Angoulême finally won its place by finishing in 12th place. Fortunately for Evan Urruzmendi, his contentious decision did not have a significant impact on the end of the SA XV season.
