The young Parisian, replacing at kick-off, has no complexes before the clash between Stade Toulousain and Stade Français this Sunday evening.
Obviously, the focus annoys him. At 21, the promising fullback of Stade Français, Léo Barré, honored his first selections during the last Six Nations Tournament. With talent, his performance against England having even struck people’s minds. At the back of the XV of France. Taking over from Thomas Ramos, the usual holder of the position, replaced at the opening to compensate for the packages of Romain Ntamack then Matthieu Jalibert.
It is therefore tempting to contrast the two number 15s. The 28-year-old Toulouse, 36 caps and official scorer for the Blues, on one side; the Parisian, 2 selections and the future ahead of him, on the other. Which, at the start of the week, responded laconically (to say the least) to a question about this rivalry in the making. Could his model be found in the Pink City, he was asked. “I have always been a fan of the Toulouse game but let’s say that I grew up more with references from Île-de-France. Given all the great full-backs who have played at Stade Français, there is no need to look elsewhere. Let’s say that I can be a little like Ramos because we are both versatile (rear and opener). But I imbibed other players…”
“The Toulouse people produce a fairly exceptional game. But we are ready to compete with these kinds of teams. It’s up to us to show what we have in our stomachs”
Leo Barre
He therefore carefully avoided making the sauce rise. Do not add any more before this Classic at the top between Stade Toulousain and Stade Français, respectively 2nd and leader of the Top 14. A hierarchy which would be reversed if the finalist of the Champions Cup won this Sunday evening at the end of the 23rd day of the regular season. Almost an obligation for Ugo Mola’s men, who would take a big step towards direct qualification for the semi-finals of the Top 14. And would thus be able to fully concentrate on the huge meeting to come, on May 25 in London , against the Irish province of Leinster (16 appearances in the final and nine crowns combined, but a first in the last act of the Champions Cup…).
Read also Top 14: A Graou-Mallia hinge, Capuozzo back… the composition of Stade Toulousain for the classico.
The Parisians do not have these constraints, they who quickly abandoned the supranational competition to concentrate on the championship and this Brennus shield which they have not raised since 2015. This shock at the summit constitutes for them a gallop of test, a dress rehearsal, one month before the tense games of the final phase. Winning it would allow them to gain a little more confidence. And to send a strong signal to the competition by strengthening their ambitions. “The Toulouse people produce a fairly exceptional game. But we are ready to compete with these kinds of teams. It’s up to us to show what we have in our stomachs”poses an uninhibited Léo Barré, who will start this clash on the bench.
Stade Français undefeated against Toulouse since February 2021!
Leader of the Top 14 since the 14th day, Stade Français knows it is expected. Because “the Capitol against the capital” has become the OM-PSG of the oval ball since the Guazzini years. And that the Parisians will be received as they should be by the people of Toulouse and their public who have not forgotten the recent vexations inflicted by their pet peeve. Paris has only lost one of the last eight confrontations (in January 2021) and advances to Ernest-Wallon with an invincibility of five matches (3 victories at home, 1 victory and 1 draw in Toulouse). ..
The most recent one, last December at Jean-Bouin, saw… Léo Barré score two tries for the French champions. A performance he has not forgotten: “This double allowed me to gain a lot of confidence, it’s true. This victory was a turning point for my initiatives, they paid off that evening.” For another success 27-12.
Enough to cheer up the opponent a little more? “I think Toulouse will receive us well”confirms with a smile the 100% Ile-de-France fullback (born in Chesney, trained in Versailles – a club where his father, his grandfather and his great-grandfather played -, passed through Massy and the Espoirs pole of the Lakanal high school in Sceaux, before joining Stade Français Paris). “I’m expecting a heated atmosphere. In the middle of an audience that will be hostile to us, it’s going to be a great cauldron!” The ideal place to confirm that he embodies the succession of the rearguard.
