Paris (AFP)
The homecoming works: the French Stadium, with two former players who became coaches on the bench and their vintage jersey, offered their first "Classico" in four years, Sunday, against Toulouse (30-18), during the 13th day of Top 14.
The Jean-Bouin stadium has therefore become nostalgic. Glorious alumni in the stands, two coaches - Julien Arias and Laurent Sempéré - who were on the field a few months ago, a blue jersey streaked with red last worn for the title against Clermont in 2007 ... and above all an important victory against the champion of France: the French stadium has found itself and it is getting better. And he proved it with his third game without a loss of rank (two wins, one draw).
The club of the capital is at the same time relaunched in the race for maintenance by leaving the place of red lantern to Agen, crunched by the LOU (13-12) the day before. He is now three points behind Castres, 12th and first non-relegation.
The French Stadium now has two European matches, against the Zebres on Saturday and then at Brive a week later, before plunging back into its rescue operation, against Clermont on January 25.
This is more than enough for the Arias-Sempéré duo who will want to continue to put the Pink Soldiers back on their feet.
The two coaches, arrived mid-November, will in any case be able to rely on the good things glimpsed against the defending French champion: the activity of Gael Fickou, author of an incredible breakthrough (26th) and a test full of realism (47th), the game at the foot of Nicolas Sanchez (a drop, a penalty, a transformation) or the resentment and the double (34th, 50th) of Sekou Macalou ...
For the Rouge et Noir, on the other hand, it's grimace soup: the Toulousains had the opportunity to get closer to the podium, they point in 7th place, out of the qualifying places for the final phase.
Worse, too inconsistent, too unruly, too imprecise, the Haut-Garonnais, rarely so jostled, never seemed to be in rhythm. And it was the French Stadium that made Jean-Bouin vibrate.
© 2020 AFP