Shock in Durban this Saturday in the Champions Cup between the Sharks and Stade Toulousain. Leader of his group with ten points on the clock, the reigning champion challenged Kolisi and several other Springboks on the 3rd day. A meeting over which there was an air of revenge on each side.
If the locals showed a lot of intensity, the visitors had the first real opportunity with a breakthrough from Mauvaka then a run into the defense from Dupont. Unfortunately, his pass did not find Kinghorn’s hands. After a defensive sequence, a superb 50/22 from Ntamack allowed Toulouse to have a great opportunity. The big guys took things in hand and Meafou scored powerfully before the 10th minute.
Toulouse dominates, but slips
Mola’s men had entered the match well, but lacked a little accuracy despite everything. With poorly adjusted passes and penalties (5) too easily conceded (3-7, 14th). Despite only 39% possession, we felt that Toulouse could make the difference at any time despite the heat. It was once again with a long-footed play from Kinghorn that the Stade invited itself into the opposing camp. But the ball was not well negotiated in touch. A few moments later, a beautiful suitcase from Dupont ended with a forward from Mauvaka. Ntamack did not have the canes to go to the Promised Land after the hard work of his friend at the hinge.
A good Toulouse sequence on a recovery ball led to a new forward. But Toulouse recovered a penalty, chose the touchline, challenged in a scrum before dismissing. Another missed opportunity when Lebel passed into touch on Ntamack’s foot pass. A match played at a false pace against the Sharks who were visibly physically exhausted and unable to accelerate. It was with great intelligence that the Stade chose the penalty in the 35th minute. The first attempted by Ramos in this competition for Toulouse (3-10). A run to the sidelines from Dupont allowed the reigning champions to end the first period with a new penalty. Enough to reward the efforts. But in view of the latter, the score could have been larger (3-13).
Ramos takes the Stadium
At that time, UBB took the lead in the group thanks to its offensive bonus already in its pocket on the Exeter pitch. Determined to regain their place, the Toulouse residents launched the second act with great enthusiasm. It was ultimately the Scotsman Kinghorn who crossed the Sharks’ chalk line after a superb chistera from Ramos. Which added two points to make a first break (3-20). With 23 hand faults in the 53rd, this match was not really what the fans expected. The fault in particular lies with the Sharks, far from causing problems for Mola’s protégés.
Which used the kicking game effectively by Ntamack with a new quality 50/22 to offer themselves a great opportunity in the opposing 22 meters. But it was again a lost ball which stopped Toulouse’s intentions in the scoring zone. The offensive bonus was still far from being in the visitors’ pocket. While we were waiting for the match to end in favor of the Stadium, it was the Sharks who scored at the end of the try to reduce the score (6-20, 68th).
Not really anything to worry about Stade Toulousain who left South Africa with a third victory in as many matches. Who let the offensive bonus slip away and at the same time first place in the group to the benefit of UBB. Bordelais who, at the same time, passed almost 70 points in Exeter. Everything will be decided next week with the reception of Leicester for Toulouse and the Sharks for Bordeaux.
