Stade Toulousein: the leaders are back! A week before the Top 14 resumes, why the champions switch gears against Perpignan

The restart is approaching and Stade Toulouse is gradually getting back to work. After a successful first test with a rejuvenated team at Mont-de-Marsan last week (36-21), most of the Chiefs will be back in red and black this evening against Perpignan in Narbonne. Taking advantage of an extra week of rest compared to the rest of the group, the Vélodrome bulldozers (59-3 against UBB in the final) are only completing their third week of preparation on this occasion. The sun of Spanish Catalonia, in Girona.

For this final (and therefore, for some, first) test nine days before the opening of the championship, the French champion in the promoted Vannetais will present himself in a configuration suitable for the team that will travel to Brittany, which will undoubtedly challenge the Pro D2. He became the champion in the first 14 matches in his history at La Rabine. Therefore, even if the stability of the squad and the rugby integrated into fitness allow the Toulouse team, it will be a matter of wasting no time in taking the benchmarks. To make up for a perceived lack of rhythm and automatism against the Catalans, who returned to training on July 15.

Real know-how in abbreviated preparation

Accustomed to hanging up their boots since the start of their reign in the Top 14 in 2019 – with only one “hiccup” in the semi-finals in 2022 – Stade Toulouse’s squad has proven that they know how to manage and prioritize these short preparation periods. recovery of your group before taking time out with sessions of increased intensity.

In Aude, he will try to get the first answers to his questions before starting again, while offering some of his young nuggets the opportunity to face a solid Catalan team. And if no hasty conclusions should be drawn, increasing the power can only be recommended.