Mercilessly with the Durban Sharks, Stade Toulouse scored a big 56-19 victory on Sunday at home for its entry into the Champions Cup. Italian winger Ange Capuozzo made a strong contribution to this victory with a hat-trick.
Annoyed after letting the continental crown slip away to UBB last season, Toulouse had an ideal afternoon, despite a few mistakes. In the 45th minute, the meeting also marked the return to the European scene of Antoine Dupont after his return to the Top 14 a week ago.
But Ange Capuozzo, untenable on his wing and in all the good offensive moves, did what was necessary to take the light in the softness of the Pink City. The twirling three-quarter has once again shown that when he puts on crampons, he does it to visit the opposing goal, he who has scored in each of his matches with Toulouse this season, for 8 tries in 6 matches.
In the wake of Capuozzo, the Rouge et Noir recorded a fifth consecutive victory in all competitions, and were quick to return to their standards of last season, when they had scored an average of… 56 points during the group stage.
Ramos assure
In an unbridled start to the match, the Toulouse team was able to set the pace and find the fault very quickly, thanks to a delight at the foot of Thomas Ramos, aligned at the opening after the package of Romain Ntamack, distilled in the arms of the Italian international winger who only had to go and flatten after only four minutes of play.
Ugo Mola’s men also demonstrated their knowledge of conquest, with a double from hooker Julien Marchand (14th, 21st). While the new international Kalvin Gourgues scored the fourth try, that of the offensive bonus, from the 24th minute, suggesting a one-way scenario in favor of the Haut-Garonnais.
Manhandled for around 30 minutes despite the entry into play of Antoine Dupont, the Rouge et Noir stepped on the accelerator on the hour mark, Capuozzo making one of Toulouse’s first forays of the second period into the Sharks’ 22m (35-12, 63rd), before doing it again for the hat-trick eight minutes later.
With a third try scored at the end of the game, the Sharks came close to the offensive bonus, but could do nothing on the two achievements of Dorian Aldegheri and Teddy Thomas. Before traveling to Glasgow on Saturday, Toulouse is launched just as UBB was the day before, against other South Africans, the Blue Bulls.
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