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The return of the heroes
Cameron Woki, Matthieu Jalibert and Maxime Lucu side UBB (2nd, 38 pts);
Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka, François Cros and Anthony Jelonch in Toulouse (1st, 40 pts) ... the Blues, winners of the All Blacks, have finished their deserved vacation and will be present in Chaban- Delmas for this gala shock, revenge of the last semi-final of the Top 14.
Six months later, with the European Cup at the turn, there is no real question of concealing this XXL duel.
A Toulouse defeat, the first since a trip to Lyon (25-19) on October 17, and it is the UBB which would take pole.
"They are not unbeatable", has also assured the Girondin manager Christophe Urios in the week.
The last time Stade Toulouse went to Bordeaux-Bègles, the Rouge et Noir had won 21-10.
Since June 5, 2021, UBB has been undefeated at home.
Saturday, Chaban-Delmas will refuel.
For a feat?
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The next match for Racing
Less than a week after the slap received at home against UBB (37-14), and its scathing 31-0 conceded in the second half, Racing 92 (6th, 25 pts) gets back in the saddle on the ground of Castres (8th, 24 pts), one of the last three undefeated teams at home this season.
"If you go to Castres without character, it's not even worth moving ... It will be a real test for us", admitted scrum-half Maxime Machenaud, echoing the third line Baptiste Chouzenoux, who wants "show another face".
The players of Racing 92 groggys after their debacle at home in front of Bordeaux-Bègles, November 28, 2021 in Nanterre FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives
Laurent Travers does not say anything else: the Ile-de-France coach wishes to see his men straighten their heads by "working in continuity and stability".
Does Racing 92, largely affected by injuries (Pesenti, Le Roux, Spring, Le Garrec, Palu, Sanconnie, Iribaren ...) have the means to bounce back?
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Danty finds Paris
"The lump in my stomach."
A few months after leaving the Stade français (12th, 19 pts), his long-standing club, the international center Jonathan Danty, now in La Rochelle (4th, 29 pts), will return to Paris on Sunday (9:05 pm).
"I don't tend to stress. But going to play in my old stadium, against my former team-mates, with whom I played for five, six or even ten years, it feels weird, when I think about it. going through this step, it makes me feel a little confused, "he recently confessed.
Success in La Rochelle would allow the Maritimes to get back on the podium.
But the Pink Soldiers must return to success, after three defeats in a row, so as not to unscrew towards the relegation zone.
The Parisian third line Romain Briatte was clear: "We are not going to hide it, we are lacking in confidence. We will have to find our game."
And correct the problems of indiscipline, which the Parisians tried to solve in training under the expert eye of referee Romain Poite.
Center Jonathan Danty scores a try for Stade Français against Lyon in Top 14 in Paris, May 28, 2021 Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP / Archives
In eleven matches, the Stade français received eleven cards, including one red.
But more than the indiscipline, it is "a problem of control" which penalizes the club of the capital at the end of the match, estimated its trainer Gonzalo Quesada.
In the other meetings of the day, Toulon (11th, 20 pts) moves to Pau (9th, 22 pts) while Clermont (8th, 24 pts) receives the Biarrotte red lantern (14th, 18 pts).
Finally, Montpellier (3rd, 30 pts) will try to stay within gun range of the leading duo with a fifth success in a row, when the Usap (13th, 18 pts) comes in, which has never been imposed on outdoors this season.
© 2021 AFP