Back from an intense trip to South Africa, the Rouge et Noir welcome the Leicester Tigers this Sunday at Ernest-Wallon (4:15 p.m.). Tired, diminished by injuries, but determined, the Toulouse residents want to regain their efficiency to stay in the race for the Champions Cup.
Victory against the Sharks in Durban (8-20) without a bonus left Toulouse residents with regrets. A match without great satisfaction… “Our sterility of finishing in Durban concerns us. Breaking so many times (15 times) and scoring so few times, that hasn’t happened to us for a long time”admits Stade Toulouse coach Ugo Mola.
But the journey itself was trying. Between the stifling heat and the physical shocks, the impacts left marks. “We had a series of problems (5 days stuck in the hotel) but neither more nor less than what the other teams experienced. Except that when you experience it you find it very particular, very painful”confides Ugo Mola.
We had prepared for high temperatures, but not this return to cold
Antoine Dupont indicates the difficulties of travel and the more positive signs for Sunday: “I had it harder on the way out than on the way back. The heat, obviously, is very hard to bear. You get used to the cold quickly and it’s less bothersome on the physiological side. I feel better now than last week. I think most of the team also felt good given the training we had on Wednesday which went well. I hope we will be in good shape on Sunday too.”
The transition from Durban to Toulouse was equally challenging. “The return was more complicated for me, with a 30 degree difference between there and here. We had prepared for the high temperatures, but not this return to cold”says François Cros.
We have rarely trained so little in a month and a half
This African journey disrupted the team’s plans. “We have rarely trained so little in a month and a half”confides Ugo Mola.
-The absences of Santiago Chocobares, victim of a knockoutand Alexandre Roumat, injured in the ischios, complicate things even further. But the coach prefers to focus on what his players can control: “We hope that we will be more disciplined and more efficient on Sunday.”
Leicester, a tough opponent
The Tigers, authors of a great performance against Ulster (38-10), embody an emblematic English team, with two European Cups and ten English championship titles. At their head, Michael Cheika, former coach of Stade Français, the Australian team and Argentina. The English arrive with their weapons, notably the double South African world champion André Pollard and the full-back Freddie Steward. “A powerful team and very effective in the scoring area. I believe all their players at the back weigh more than 100kg”analyse Ugo Mola.
Faced with the English, the objective is clear for the people of Toulouse : achieve a victory, ideally with the offensive bonus. “We will do everything to get five points. The objective is to remain among the best seconds”says third line warrior François Cros.
After a difficult week, the Rouge et Noir will have to draw on their resources to shine in front of their audience. Their last meeting against the Tigers dates back to January 20, 2013, in the Heineken Cup, with a 9-5 defeat. Between the nostalgia of an old confrontation and a weakening journey, Toulouse wants to finish well.
Swiss
