Mathematically, the Rouge et Noir are doing well: they are fifth, with a late game, three points from seventh and still in the qualifying places for the final phase.

But, in Pau, the Toulousains simply sank: unable to get rid of a team in double numerical inferiority (red cards for Manu 33rd and Vatubua 51st), the men of Ugo Mola have no longer won in the league since November 27 and a victory against Brive (18-11).

84 days.

An eternity for a club of the standing of the Toulouse Stadium.

At the time, the champion of France and Europe was leader of the classification, with 16 points ahead of the seventh and first non-qualified.

Almost three months later, this lead melted like snow in the sun, seeing the Rouge et Noir collapse in the standings and erase from the history books their worst series in the Top 14 - in 2014-2015, Toulouse had chained five defeats of rank but still reached the semi-finals.

Toulouse winger Dimitri Delibes (g) scores a try on the field of Pau, February 19, 2022 at the Hameau stadium GAIZKA IROZ AFP

To manage to hold the road, Ugo Mola and his staff will have to find the parade, especially since the ten internationals called in Blues (Dupont, Ntamack, Jelonch, Marchand, Baille, Cros ...) will not return anytime soon.

By early April, Toulouse will indeed chain a block of four high-risk matches: ahead of UBB, the leader, then at Stade Français, against Lyon and finally Castres.

Paris to the power of ten

"It's a hard defeat to digest. (...) It's symptomatic of our lack of confidence at the moment. It's complicated not to achieve these highlights. It's obvious that we are worried. If we Were it not, we would be blind. We need this worry to help us progress, work, regain confidence and win matches. Let it help us find solutions rather than bury us. We have to look for of the revolt, now that's enough", has also confessed the assistant coach Jean Bouilhou.

In the other meetings of the day, the French stadium made short work of the Biarritz red lantern (65-19) and is relaunching in the race for the top 6.

The center of the Stade Français Ngani Laumape ball in hand against Biarritz, February 19, 2022 at the Jean-Bouin stadium in Paris Thomas COEX AFP

The Parisians spent ten tries at the Basques, anemic and reduced to fourteen after the two yellow cards from Johnny Dyer (16th, 51st).

They are now 7th three points behind Racing 92, which travels to the leader Bordeaux-Bègles on Sunday.

It's also better for Toulon.

After a hectic week, the Rade club had a second win in a row against Perpignan (29-18).

The RCT gives itself a little air in the classification thanks to four attempts by Hériteau, Isa, Cordin and Danglot.

Finally, Brive held Montpellier (16-16) in check while Castres offered Lyon (19-17), a news carried by the eternal Benjamin Urdapilleta, author of fourteen points including the victory penalties at four minutes of the term.

Thanks WHO?

© 2022 AFP