How the French press reacted to Leinster’s win over Toulouse
“A lesson in rugby that Toulouse seldom receives” was the headline in French newspaper Le Figaro next Leinster’s 40-17 hammering of Toulouse in the European Champions Cup on Saturday.
Arnaud Coudry of Le Figaro wrote Toulouse had been swept away by the effectiveness, speed and aggressiveness of the Leinster gamers.
“Leinster shines with its organisation, its type of enjoy programmed and recited off by heart. Chilly effectiveness.
“The hard learning of the extremely significant amount continues for the golden era of Stade Toulousain. In soreness this time.”
He wrote that Toulouse had been “swept away” and Leinster is now “certainly the favourite for the title” no make any difference who gained the other semi-last.
Praising the “rustproof” Johnny Sexton, he wrote: “The several years pass, the concussions too, but he is still there. At 36, we marvel if he is nevertheless at the amount, but Sexton proves in high-stakes matches that he is nevertheless just as productive.”
Amid the praise for Leinster, nevertheless, he claimed Irish provinces have a definite advantage about French teams as URC groups “do not have the very same priorities”.
“For many months, Sexton and the finest gamers have been remaining to rest, spared and exempted from URC matches for the Champions Cup, when the Toulousains even now have to scrap to assure their put in the remaining stage of the Top 14. Definitely, the freshness is not the identical. Leinster appeared physically a notch higher than Stade Toulousain.”
Richard Escot of French activity newspaper L’Équipe wrote “Toulouse could hardly ever categorical on their own, often retreating simply because of strain and certainly compensated for the surplus of vitality of their quarter-ultimate final Saturday from Munster.
“Toulouse have been only a shadow of themselves, a striking distinction with the Irish, who have been aggressive on the benefit line and always beautifully positioned.”
Praising Leinster, he wrote “Leinster’s mixtures of alternating perform testify to the ideal understanding the Irish have of their sport. In comparison, Toulouse’s game seemed telegraphed.”
An investigation piece by Alex Bardot on L’Équipe mentioned the most hanging situation for Toulouse was their issues in containing Leinster’s attacking condition.
“Few teams in the entire world have mastered the principles of ‘3+1’ so considerably. In purchase to compete, Toulouse would have had to imitate the initially of the French crew in opposition to Eire in the 6 Nations, dominate the impacts and a solid involvement in rucks to sluggish down the video game. But they rapidly showed weaknesses and discovered by themselves managing soon after the ball and soon after the Irish.”
Justine Saint-Sevin of France Information wrote the stinging defeat did not come as a big shock as Toulouse had been sluggish this season.
“The Toulousains missed approximately 32 tackles (as opposed to 19 on the Leinster facet). The gamers failed to study the opponent’s engage in. Toulouse was also tactically dominated.
“Their trouble in occupying the field, the dropped balls: everything is partly symptomatic of a staff with a deeply harmed physique.”
She also highlighted tiredness as a explanation for Toulouse’s hammering, with the French side heading to Ireland a few periods in brief notice and offered the craziness of last week’s sport from Munster.
“In shorter, even a Toulouse in whole self confidence would have had to grind out a earn.”
