TOP PERFORMERS
François Cros
The Toulouse flanker, who is part of the French squad heading to Italy for the third day of the Six Nations, pulled out all the stops in his return after almost a month away from competition, building confidence before rejoining the Blues. The Toulousian scored a double against Clermont (36th, 61st minutes), both times capitalizing on opportunities, and only missed two tackles out of eleven attempts. A commanding performance, where the Stade player set an example for the young talent in his team.
Thomas Lacombre
Thomas Lacombre also put in an impressive performance. The hooker repeatedly breached the Auvergne defensive line, showcasing his power (zero missed tackles) and contributing on the ground in rucks. An (extremely) encouraging match for him, where he seized his chance in the absence of established regulars.
Juan Cruz Mallía
What can’t the Argentine do? The question arises after another great performance at the Michelin. A true utility player for his team, the Toulouse player can play as a full-back, center, or fly-half. The joker in the Haut-Garonne team also accumulated eight points, all on foot (two penalties, one conversion). A player of immense quality and exceptional class. A joy to watch on the pitch.
Stade Toulousain
Stade Toulousain seems capable of winning the French championship title at the end of the season without much trouble, even without most of its French internationals. This highlights the vast advantage the Haut-Garonne team has over its rivals. The "young" players or substitutes, called to the forefront in times of overlap, never disappoint. They are on a "mission," perfectly supported by more experienced players. A magical and relentless formula that allowed the "Rouge et Noir" to triumph in Auvergne and reclaim the throne of Top 14.
FLOPS
Benjamin Urdapilleta (Completely) Overwhelmed
Forced to come on at full-back following injuries to his teammates, the veteran Argentinian delivered a disastrous performance. Never in sync, physically and technically outmatched, the Clermont player showed the weight of the accumulated years on his aging shoulders. The Jaunard also made numerous unforced errors, even conceding a penalty. The Auvergne fly-half completed his terrible performance by failing to find a touchline for his team. A gross error, immediately punished by Toulouse, which led to the final try by Paul Graou (67th minute). The Puma can take solace in the fact that his compatriot Bautista Delguy, on the wing, was equally catastrophic.
ASM Collapsed
Christophe Urios’ men, who had already missed too many try-scoring opportunities in the first half by repeatedly making mistakes within Toulouse’s 22 meters, collapsed in the final quarter of an hour. After starting the second half with lightning speed, the Jaunards were swept away when Stade accelerated for the second time, leaving the Clermont defensive line in tatters.
