Stade Toulousain, dual French title holder, secures triumphant progression to championship final, vanquishing Aviron in a decisive match.
The resilient Toulouse maintained its throne, while Bayonne faced a decisive defeat in the Top 14 semi-final. The formidable double champions of France, Stade Toulousain, showcased their might at the Groupama Stadium ( Décines-Charpieu) on June 20th, outplaying Bayonne in the first semi-final.
Romain Ntamack (12th) and Thomas Ramos shone brightest, each demonstrating their prowess, while Aviron Bayonnais fought valiantly but struggled to disrupt Toulouse's strategies. The Basques received a lifeline through Joris Segonds' impressive six out of six kicks, keeping them somewhat in the game. Yet, their final try in the 83rd minute mainly served to salvage their dignity.
"Watch out, we'll take 40 points in the final if we're as undisciplined!"
"We expected a tough opponent, and they proved us right again. We played a serious game, as usual," said Romain Ntamack, speaking to Canal+ post-match. "Our unity and determination carried us through, but once more, our discipline was our Achilles' heel, and it could have cost us dearly tonight."
In sync, Thomas Ramos, named man of the match, echoed similar sentiments. "There was a lot of indiscipline on our part and that's what kept Bayonne in the game," he noted, contributing 13 points from the tee (eight out of eight). "They never breached our half in the first 40 minutes and we gave them 15 points! We'll take 40 points in the final if we play as undisciplined as we did tonight."
The Red and Blacks have a week to refine their discipline ahead of the Top 14 final, scheduled for June 28th at the Stade de France. This highly-anticipated showdown will pit Toulouse against either RC Toulon or Union Bordeaux-Bègles – both vying for their first double Championship and Champions Cup victory.
Historically, Toulouse has been a dominant force and a regular contender for doubles. In the 2020/21 European Rugby Champions Cup, they faced La Rochelle in the final, triumphing with a 22-17 victory at Twickenham, London – securing their fifth Champions Cup title[2]. Other teams like Bordeaux Bègles have also emerged as Champions Cup contenders in recent times, eventually winning their maiden title later[3].
In the 2020 Top 14 season, Toulouse, along with La Rochelle and other prominent French clubs, were major competitors for the championship[2]. However, specific details about the Top 14 2020 champion and finalists are not explicitly mentioned in the provided search results. Nevertheless, the focus on teams competing in both the Champions Cup and Top 14 Championship around 2020 indicates that Toulouse could potentially aim for this elusive double victory in the upcoming season.
"Given our recent indiscipline, French sports powerhouses Toulouse must focus on corrections before the Top 14 final, especially as they pursue a double victory in both the Top 14 Championship and European leagues."
"With Toulouse's history of success in European leagues, their future opponents in the Top 14 final should be mindful of their strength in football and ability to dominate, particularly as they aim for a double victory."
