The Toulouse residents hit hard with a performance against the Rochelais (60-14) and regained control of the championship ahead of the Palois.
What a demonstration from the reigning triple French champions! Stade Toulousain offered a real recital, this Sunday, against La Rochelle (60-14), at the end of Boxing Day of the 13th day of the Top 14. Ugo Mola’s men – upset since their defeat in the Champions Cup in Glasgow and the sanction of two points in the Jaminet affair – were simply unplayable, scoring nine tries in this gala poster relocated to the Stadium.
In this evening of total rugby, Antoine Dupont was monstrous. Assists, 50/22, the star scrum half of French rugby did everything in the Maritimes. And, what’s more, he scored a superb double (33rd, 37th). His first attempts at Top in over a year. For his second start since his return from injury, the number 9 of the Rouge et Noir proved that he has lost none of his magic and his efficiency. Teddy Thomas, formerly of La Rochelle, also scored a double this Sunday evening (58th, 67th).
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With this improved success, Stade Toulousain once again becomes leader of the Top 14, with one point ahead of Section Paloise who did not win the offensive bonus a little earlier, during their narrow victory against Montpellier. Another setback for La Rochelle, which only scored twice through Niniashvili (4th) and Le Garrec (66th). After its great success against Bayonne (49-17), the Maritimes (10th) conceded a fourth defeat in their last five outings in the league.
11th try of the season for Capuozzo
Hooker Julien Marchand, also omnipresent, first responded to a very good start to the game from the Maritimes, concluded by Davit Niniashvili (0-7, 5th). Then the only one on stage on the Garonne began. With an unbalanced chistera followed, a few seconds later, by a very accurate pass, Dupont sent Capuozzo to give Toulouse the advantage. The Italian international scored his 11th try since the start of the season, in all competitions.
Lively and full of desire, he then came close to a first try at the end of a magnificent collective movement, but Romain Ntamack was the quickest to flatten the game at the foot of Capuozzo behind the line (22-7, 25th). It was only a postponement: ten minutes later, with a dazzling start punctuated by a huge ruckus on the Latu hooker, he unlocked his evening counter, then did it again, opportunistic in the disorder, to score a double before half-time.
Things did not get better after the break for La Rochelle, although they came with a solid team but powerless against the Haut-Garonne steamroller. Roumat added to the bill at the end of a sequence of striking intensity, a symbol of Toulouse’s collective domination. Then Dupont stepped up the pace, hilarious after a sickening 50/22 for the Maritimes.
In the process, he allowed Teddy Thomas to score against the club he left this summer to join the Pink City, rewarding him with a precise diagonal of more than 40 meters. One last gift before a standing ovation when he leaves. Ramos then took over, sending Thomas to double with a kick, then extending the ball with his foot and volley, for a final try from Léo Banos (76th). The demonstration was complete.
