The Rouge et Noir have reigned over the championship since 2019, losing only one title. This domination risks harming the interest of the competition. But it seems impossible to contain.
Special envoy to Marseille
Impressive, ruthless, invincible…. As Romain Ntamack says, superlatives are lacking to describe Toulouse’s demonstration in the Top 14 final. Nine tries flattened (a record), 59 points scored (another record, and when you think of the 12 conversion points lost along the way…), a gap of 56 points (shattering the record of the 1900 final between Racing CF and Stade Bordelais, concluded 37 to 3). Friday evening in Marseille, Stade Toulousain raised its domination to another level. Maintaining its stranglehold on the championship – 4th title since 2019, only that of 2022 having escaped it in favor of Montpellier -, adding in the process a new Top 14-Champions Cup double after that of 2021, to assert its supremacy, to establish a new dynasty.
Dynasty because this series of successes is not programmed to stop there. On the contrary. The champions repeat it, they always want more. “I’m sure this group won’t stop there.”warned Thomas Ramos as soon as Brennus’ shield was raised. “It is not finished, added Romain Ntamack. We will have the same appetite next season.” “We want to make history”hammers Antoine Dupont, confirming his manager’s predictions. Ugo Mola never ceases to affirm that this generation does not set limits for itself, always wants more. A little game has even been established between him and his “kids” : what is the best generation? That of Mola, player, won six French championship titles from 1994 to 1999, plus a European Cup (1996). “Let’s say there’s still one missing”smiled the coach.
A workforce as talented as it is plethoric
The Toulouse players would be wrong to deprive themselves of it. And to doubt it because the president of the club with 23 Brennus shields and six European cups (two records, again…) has done everything in recent years to reach such heights by shaping a squad that is as talented as it is plentiful. Let us recall, as a preamble, that Toulouse was deprived, for this final, of three French internationals, three essentials that are Cyril Baille, Emmanuel Meafou and Anthony Jelonch. But there were still enough of the best French players (or even the world for some) to frolic on the Vélodrome pitch. Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack of course, but also Thomas Ramos, François Cros, Thibaud Flament or even the… two (!) hookers of the French team, Peato Mauvaka and Julien Marchand. A duo that has Guillaume Cramont as its backup, no less than the best Toulouse tackler this season in Top 14.
Read alsoFinal Top 14: Dupont, Mauvaka, Ramos… In video, the best attempts and the summary of Toulouse-UBB
Because, to the many Blues, we should add the nuggets from the Toulouse training like Gramont therefore, but also Paul Costes and Mathis Castro-Ferreira, two future members of the XV of France without a doubt. Even if we should not make too much of the legend of a Stade Toulousain at the top only thanks to its training. In the final, at kick-off, from 11 to 15, only Thomas Ramos was in this case. In the starting XV, Ntamack, Cros and the first line also. That is six out of fifteen.
A nice ratio, but the real know-how of Stade Toulousain lies elsewhere. In its ability to unearth and attract incredible talents from abroad – Jack Willis, Pita Ahki, the Argentinian duo Mallia-Chocobares, the Australian second row Rory Arnold – or other French training centers (Dupont, Flament , Roumat, Capuozzo…). All attracted, not by the prospect, but the assurance, of winning titles, as well as the high probability of being spotted by the coach to put on the blue jersey. In short, people are jostling at the gate to join the armada in red and black.
4.2 million viewers for the Toulouse coronation
As a result, Stade Toulousain does not have one very high-level team, but two (or even three, as Yannick Bru, the UBB manager, claimed after the rout in the final…). Ugo Mola has used nearly 60 players this season without the performance really suffering. The double French champion thus crossed the doubles without firing a shot (23 points gleaned out of 25 possible), masterfully led by a Paul Graou-Juan Cruz Mallia hinge that all Top 14 residents would dream of having as their first choice .
How to compete with such a cohort, a well-oiled collective, confidence to the brim, talent to spare? That is the big question. And, no doubt, it will quickly arise for the National Rugby League which has just renegotiated upwards the television rights of its flagship product (nearly €140 million per year). Friday evening, 4.2 million people were watching France 2 or Canal + (4.5 million last year for the Toulouse-La Rochelle final). Certainly disillusioned by the lack of suspense. To the point of starting to turn away from a competition promised every year at the Stade Toulousain?
The hegemony of Paris SG in Ligue 1 (ten of the last twelve French championship titles) has meant that French football has seen its audience and exposure reduced, to the point of always being in search of a broadcaster, and this, even at discounted prices. Such Toulouse hegemony would have the same harmful effects on the public tired of the lack of uncertainty and interest.
Solutions to curb the domination of Stade Toulousain?
But how to curb the Stade’s domination? Complicated unless you count on the goodwill of the Toulouse management, that they stop piling up the most reliable talents while being careful to respect the rules, not to exceed the salary cap by one euro, according to the control bodies. A tour de force? Not if we are to believe Didier Lacroix who repeats endlessly, with a tremolo in his voice, the financial sacrifices made by his players. Who accept lower salary conditions than the competition in order to pad their list of achievements. Such as Peato Mauvaka who has just extended his contract until 2029. A decision that most certainly had nothing to do with money.
Can we therefore consider a new restrictive measure, such as limiting the number of internationals per club? Require them to share the best Blues equally? Very unlikely that the president of the LNR, René Bouscatel, and his arm, his private advisor, Didier Lacroix, will work to weaken Stade Toulousain. Who has probably not finished reigning over the Top 14.
