Sharks la menace
The Toulouse management probably did not have to insist too much this week for its players to become aware of the danger posed by the Sharks, who fell last weekend from the Irish of Munster (50-35). “You only have to see the score of their round of 16, especially against a Munster team which has a lot of appetite for this competition”, warned scrum-half Antoine Dupont.
For its trainer Ugo Mola, the Durban franchise is even “a bit of an ultra-favorite” in the Champions Cup, which it is however discovering this season. “It’s almost the South African team that we will face,” summarized for AFP the left pillar Cyril Baille, who should find a respondent in the scrum.
Even without the former second line of Toulon Eben Etzebeth, injured, the Sharks will have arguments to make on Saturday (4 p.m.) at the Ernest-Wallon stadium between the charismatic captain of the Springboks Siya Kolisi, the hooker Bongi Mbonambi or the center Lukhanyo Am.
Especially since they have within their staff a man who knows the red and black house perfectly: the former hooker Yannick Bru, assistant to Guy Novès on the banks of the Garonne from 2007 to 2012. we are all at a level a little above what we did today, ”warned full-back Thomas Ramos after the lackluster victory in the round of 16 against a first South African franchise, the Bulls ( 33-9).
La Rochelle warned
The Rochelais will also have to raise their level of play after having come close to elimination last weekend at home against Gloucester (29-26). They will welcome Sunday (4 p.m.), again in Deflandre, another English team, the Saracens, back at the highest level after being relegated to the second division in 2020 for exceeding the salary cap.
The triple winners of the European Cup (2016, 2017 and 2019) prance at the top of the English championship, with 11 points ahead, thanks to a hard core of internationals like the second line Maro Itoje, the opener Owen Farrell or the Vunipola brothers.
>> READ ALSO: Champions Cup: Toulouse crushes the Bulls, Montpellier eliminated at Exeter after extra time
What perhaps to avoid at Stade Rochelais, reigning European champion, a new overconfidence, denounced after the pale copy made against Gloucester by manager Ronan O’Gara, in particular reassembled against his three-quarters.
“We know how we are when we are in the sufficiency and in the “it will do”. We are surprised and we are caught in our own game, ”recognized the second row Thomas Lavault. “But in the final phase, the cards are redistributed before each kick-off. No matter the team, the past is a 15 against 15 rugby match, and fire! »
