With, on the match sheet, 14 of the 42 players selected to prepare for the November tests, this new "classic" of the championship could raise fears of breakage among the Blues.

It is finally a red card which should deprive the left pillar of La Rochelle Reda Wardi of the three autumn matches of the XV of France against Australia, South Africa and Japan.

Guilty of a high tackle on the Toulouse scrum half Antoine Dupont, he quickly left his teammates outnumbered and will probably have to wait some time before knowing his first selection.

A new blow for coach Fabien Galthié after the injury the day before of Toulonnais Jean-Baptiste Gros and the unavailability of the usual holder on the left of the first line, Cyril Baille.

The center of La Rochelle Jonathan Danty (g) tackled by the back of Toulouse Thomas Ramos, on October 23, 2022 in Toulouse Charly TRIBALLEAU AFP

The expulsion of Wardi undoubtedly awakened old demons in the Maritimes, beaten by Stade Toulousain in the final of the 2021 European Cup after being reduced to fourteen in the 28th minute.

She also broke them in their tracks after a very intense start to the match, especially as the fate was fierce against them with the exit on a stretcher a few minutes later of hooker Samuel Lagrange following a K.- O.

26 points from Ramos

Difficult, under these conditions, to compete with this Toulouse, always so realistic, like the test of Thomas Ramos, on the reception of a kick from Dupont, on one of the rare real occasions of his team.

The back of La Rochelle Brice Dulin (g) tackled by the Toulousain Antoine Dupont, on October 23, 2022 in Toulouse Charly TRIBALLEAU AFP

Under the eyes of Romain Ntamack, ready to return to the field after being away for more than a month by an ankle injury, Ramos, still author of 26 points (7 out of 8 on foot), confirmed his international form of the start of the season.

In a match as bumpy as it was committed, the Rochelais, too undisciplined, had the merit of never giving up, but the tries of Brice Dulin, very restless, and Rémi Picquette, in force, were not enough.

Without having had to force their talent, the people of Toulouse increased their winning streak to eight, in all competitions, against the reigning European champions, over whom they undeniably took a psychological advantage.

They also took a real accounting ascendancy in the ranking.

Before losing its internationals for a month, Stade Toulouse already has a ten-point lead over La Rochelle, third, and nine over Stade Français, the new runner-up.

© 2022 AFP