Top 14 – ‘He tickled us quite a bit on the touchline’: Toulouse youngster takes on aerial challenge against Toulon

Last winter, at the Stadion against Toulon, the reigning French champions experienced various problems on the sidelines. If it had been victorious (25-17), Stade would have lost four rounds of ammunition on their own throws in the first period. At the time of the reunion this Saturday at the Stade Vélodrome, there is inevitably distrust in the Haut-Garonnais ranks. Especially since his aerial stars Cros (2.62 balls taken per game) and Arnold (3), present in the first leg, will not be there for this revenge. Alexandre Roumat (2.87), also an important link, starts on the bench. With many leaders at rest, therefore room for youth. Like Joshua Brennan (1.46) or Clément Vergé (1.12), both 22 years old, who will be supported by the 26 feathers of Thibaut Flament (2.71). “We prepared, we looked at the way Toulon defends to attack certain areas accordingly”explains the French international, who no longer wears a helmet.

It can be rewarding for a young player like me

Second row Clément Vergé, eight games this season and lasts for 4 Saturday eveningis impatient to compete against the Var team. “It’s super interesting for me these kinds of games, against players like Esteban Abadie for example. It’s up to us to find the right areas to annoy them. If we come out of this game with a good bit in touch, it could be rewarding for a young player like me.” A performance that would have been all the more beautiful given that Toulouse were not necessarily able to prepare ideally for this phase of the game. The Toulouse staff, after resting their players on Monday and Tuesday, had to modulate the specific sideline sessions and condense what was. done in two days in one day. This week, Ugo Mola’s men have mainly worked on “key clarity”. A session lightened in intensity, but where the relevant players must be aware and precise of each other’s positions and understand the movements.

Abadie, like poison in the air

And when we take stock of the many resources of RCT in the field, the Toulouse staff have something to scratch their heads. RCT are easily the second best team in the Championship in counter-attacking (with almost 25% of defensive touches won). Paradoxically, on their own throws, Toulon are eleventh out of 14 (79% of hits won). In terms of individuals, it is Esteban Abadie who worries Jean Bouilhou, coach of the Toulouse forwards. “He didn’t play when Toulon came to the stadium, but when we faced Brive in the top 14, he tickled us quite a bit, smiles the sector specialist. All the jumpers are keen to exist in the face of a lineup like Toulon. Abadie is the aerial focal point of the Toulon side. In comparison with the Toulouse jumpers, the former Briviste has 3.73 balls taken per game. His reputation as a ball stealer is also deserved as he has 0.73 blocks per game to his credit (11 in 15 games). Englishman David Ribbans, with 44 caught balls, is also a target for the Toulon launches. The people of Toulouse will therefore have a lot to do to preserve their ammunition.