After an international break of more than two months, the majority of players from the French team returned to the fields of the Top 14 this weekend. In total, 27 Blues who played in the last Tournament returned to competition with their club on the 19th day of the Championship.
Sunday evening, during the only UBB-Toulouse match, there were fourteen of them (not counting Antoine Dupont, who skipped the last Six Nations to successfully play two 7-a-side tournaments) to put on a show at Matmut Atlantique.
Dupont has gained momentum, Lucu as boss
He was replaced by Antoine Dupont. In the position of number 10, the latter first suffered like his partners the Bordeaux domination before gaining momentum in the second half, carrying out high-class actions (144 meters covered with the ball, 8 defenders beaten) to revive Toulouse in the part.
27
Antoine Dupont carried the ball 27 times on Sunday against UBB, the best total in a Top 14 match for a backline player since the 2010-2011 season.
Placed opposite each other, wingers Matthis Lebel and Damian Penaud delivered contrasting games. They achieved offensive exploits (double for Toulouse, a try for Penaud) but were in difficulty defensively. In the center, Yoram Moefana was sharper than during the Tournament, Nicolas Depoortere was effective in defense but less incisive than his opposite Paul Costes.
At the Bordeaux hinge, Matthieu Jalibert, for his return from injury, delivered a serious match (a good shift on Tatafu’s try, 2/2 against the poles) before leaving at the start of the second half. Maxime Lucu has regained all his pep despite his imprecision on his shots on goal at the start of the match (0/3). The scrum half then guided his team with his occupation play and was exemplary defensively (16 successful tackles).
Among the Toulouse forwards, Julien Marchand also played a captain’s game. The hooker was hard on contact, valuable in the rucks to facilitate quick exits in the second half. Alexandre Roumat and Thibaud Flament were more subdued. Finally, the entries in the 45th minute of Cyril Baille, Dorian Aldegheri, Emmanuel Meafou and François Cros did good for Toulouse.
Alldritt with two faces, Barré sharp, Le Garrec decisive
Saturday evening, La Rochelle was also entitled to the return of three internationals (Uini Atonio was rested). But the trio did not prevent the narrow defeat in Bayonne (13-12). Captain Grégory Alldritt first appeared in difficulty, having two balls scratched. Then he gradually gained the upper hand over his opponents in the second half.
Very much in demand offensively (20 races with the ball, 48 meters covered), he scored a try in the 73rd minute. Paul Boudehent was active but discreet until his exit in the 53rd minute, while Georges-Henri Colombe was too imprecise (two lost balls, three penalties conceded). As for Antoine Hastoy (who did not play during the last Tournament), he received the victory penalty at the end of his crampons. But his penalty goal in the 78th minute hit the post.
Faced with a LOU led by the Taofifenua brothers (and in particular an aggressive Sébastien), Stade Français ended up winning (22-13). Paul Gabrillagues was combative but was shown a yellow card for a high tackle. In line with his last match with the France team against England, Léo Barré was precise with his feet and sharp with the ball in hand.
In Toulon, Charles Ollivon and Esteban Abadie participated in the spectacular victory against Montpellier (54-7). A meeting during which Melvyn Jaminet (19 points in total, 1 try) and Gabin Villière, who did not play during the Tournament, also shone.
USAP with a Posolo Tuilagi holder took four precious points from Oyonnax (14-15). Finally, Racing of Cameron Woki, Gaël Fickou and Nolann Le Garrec suffered but was heroic at the end of the match to win in Castres (21-23). The scrum half, revelation of the last Tournament, did not tremble when scoring the penalty goal in the 77th minute which allowed his team to get back in front.
