Why the Stade Toulousain-UBB shocks are so spectacular?

• Stade Toulousain welcomes the Bordeaux-Bègles Union this Sunday (4:50 p.m.) during the 14th day of Top 14.
• Between two very playful teams, we have often witnessed in recent years ultra-spectacular matches.
• It will also be an opportunity to witness the confrontation between two of the best players in the world: Chelsin Kolbe and Semi Radradra.

An orgy. This is what the confrontations between the Stade Toulousain and the Union Bordeaux-Bègles often turn to in recent years. This Sunday (4:50 p.m.), the Garonne derby could once again offer the Ernest-Wallon stadium a nice string of tests, as since UBB's rise to Top 14 in 2011. In nine years, the two teams have produced a few exceptional matches: 33-32, 31-25, 38-27 or last season a 43-36 at Chaban-Delmas in favor of future champions of France.

It's simple, the average score of a match between Toulouse and Bordeaux is 27 to 21 according to our calculator. As Mahamadou Diaby, the third line of the UBB says, “those who love rugby, they will be served! So how do you explain these spectacular matches between these two teams?

• A real game culture

As often, you have to go back in time to understand. But not so far. If the Stade and its famous "hand game, game of Toulousains" has always been recognized for its beautiful game, it was one of them which transmitted it to the Bordeaux neighbor: Laurent Marti, the president of the UBB. Young, he went through the Rouge et Noir, one of his teammates was even the brother of Didier Laroix (the current Toulouse president): “I kept lots of friends, a lot of affection and admiration for this club. It inspired me in what I tried to build at UBB. I always said it. If today the UBB has been recognized for its offensive play, it is also because what I saw at the Stadium has always marked me, "he told France Bleu Occitanie this week.

The Union will notably develop this game identity with Vincent Etcheto or even Emile Ntamack, the former three-quarter center of Toulouse. So the two teams play the most beautiful rugby in the Top 14 for "Snowy":

We can not say that. Stade Toulousain has been recognized for many years for its particular style. The UBB always has offensive intentions, but other teams also play very well, such as Agen, Racing 92 or others ... Many teams practice movement rugby, which is often called the beautiful game.

Still, Toulouse was the second best attack in the championship last season and this year is Bordeaux. No coincidence.

• They line up perhaps the two best players in the world

It's the duel everyone is waiting for. He even made the front page of certain specialized newspapers before this meeting: Cheslin Kolbe VS Semi Radradra. The South African winger (or back) of Stade Toulousain against the Fijian center (or winger) of UBB: "They are attacking players, very visual, spectacular but also effective," recalls Emile Ntamack. Players who delight the public every weekend on French and European grounds.

VIDEO. Stade Toulousain: Spectacular and efficient ... Cheslin Kolbe, a good reason to love rugby (with @JulienCandelon, Cedric Heymans and Fabien Pelous inside) https://t.co/x3cll0cia1 via @ 20minutes pic.twitter.com/p0AHhyTwmG

Even if for Frédéric Charrier, the back coach of the Union, "it is difficult to compare them because they do not play at the same position and do not have the same characteristics", Kolbe and Radradra are able to win a match almost to them all alone crossing the lawn in just a few seconds. One thanks to its support and speed, the other thanks to its power and agility ball in hand. Today they are among the best players in the world, but are they the two best this season? "I think Vakatawa is not bad at the moment (smiles). These are players who can make huge differences, ”laughs the Bordeaux coach.

• Stronger teams despite the tournament

One would have thought that this poster would lose its value with this period of duplicates which begins due to the Tournament of the VI Nations. Between the biggest supplier of the XV of France (Toulouse) and the leader of the Top 14 (Bordeaux), Ugo Mola and Christophe Urios could expect the worst. Certainly, around fifteen players joined the Blues this week. But the new rules also make it possible to recover some for the weekend of the championship and that changes a lot of things.

Fabien Galthié delivers his list of 28 for the Crunch (without Thomas Ramos) via @ 20minutesSport https://t.co/Wdt7HTPClX

This is, for example, excellent news for the Stade Toulousain which, despite its rich staff, no longer had a renowned opening half. Ultimately, Thomas Ramos will be there to guide his team in the absence of Ntamack and Holmes. Mauvaka and Tolofua are also back like Cazeaux, Woki and Lucu on the Bordeaux side. The two teams will therefore be able to line up two very high level XVs at kick-off.

If the Rouge et Noir have always been able to rely on a real depth of bench in these periods like last season, it is a small innovation opposite for Emile Ntamack: "for a year, the UBB has come a long way with greater depth and a higher quality of play. We feel the will to take an additional course. This is also why Bordeaux is leading the way: in the space of a few months, there has been a real transformation. »Make way for gentlemen!

Bordeaux: Character, Urios, workforce, Radradra ... How to explain the metamorphosis of UBB? https://t.co/vmJjc2i8uv via @ 20minutesBord pic.twitter.com/Avh12MSkMb

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