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Toulouse does not take off

Defending champion, Toulouse does not really have its destiny in hand: its match against Cardiff, a priori within its reach, should allow the most successful club in the competition to validate its ticket for the eighth.

Doom!

The meeting was canceled after the Rouge et Noir announced around twenty positive cases, including the captain of the XV of France Antoine Dupont.

The European Cup is "distorted and discredited", railed the president of the LNR René Bouscatel in an interview with AFP.

The president of the National Rugby League, René Bouscatel, on March 23, 2021 at the League headquarters in Paris Anne-Christine POUJOULAT AFP / Archives

"It's an unfair decision", according to Bouscatel, for whom "the EPCR (...) decides to cancel a match by not respecting its rules. Which discredits those who made this decision but also the organizer and the competition itself".

The day before, the president of Toulouse Didier Lacroix rose up, speaking of "injustice" and "disrespect".

The LNR is even considering legal proceedings against the organizing body.

The president of Stade Toulousain, Didier Lacroix, during a press conference, June 3, 2020 in Toulouse Lionel BONAVENTURE AFP / Archives

Two other meetings, that of Bordeaux-Bègles in Leicester then that of Racing 92 against Northampton, were also canceled, offering a 28-0 success to the Tigers and Ciel et Blanc.

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Clermont waiting

Clermont has never won in Ulster.

Morgan Parra's teammates, author of 12 points at the foot, did not go far, falling narrowly (34-31) in Ireland.

Clermont scrum-half Morgan Parra hits a penalty against Ulster on Matchday 4 of the European Cup on January 22, 2022 in Belfast Paul Faith AFP

Thanks to a controlled second period, the Auvergnats almost made us forget the five tries conceded with three tries between the 70th and 77th minute.

The Jaunards, who started too far and were dominated for more than an hour, will have to wait for the other results of the day to see if they finish in the top eight of their group, synonymous with qualification for the round of 16.

A La Rochelle success, traveling to Glasgow on Saturday evening, would give ASM a second chance.

The 4th day ends on Sunday, without Racing 92, which won the match 28-0 on green carpet due to positive cases in Northampton.

The French Stadium and Montpellier will seek the feat respectively against the Irish of Connacht and the English of Exeter.

© 2022 AFP