A final is always a moment apart. Especially at the Stade de France. The atmosphere does not start at the whistle, it starts at Gare Montparnasse, where the first polo shirts, flags and jerseys appear. In the streets, the supporters still blend into the mass of tourists. But as the hours pass, the bars showing the final fill up.
A Top 14 final that is lived before kick-off
Under a blazing sun, everyone hunts for a spot in the shade. Arriving at the stadium, each group of fans religiously follows the marked route, not to grab a beer, since alcohol sales had been banned because of the heat. A few grind their teeth.
Settled in the stands, the Rouge et Noir and the Bleu et Blanc are already in voice during the warm-up. On decibels, a clear advantage to the Toulouse fans, but the Hérault die-hards are not to be outdone.
Mauvaka and Dupont set the scene
La Marseillaise sung, the long protocol of handshakes with Emmanuel Macron completed, the Cistes were still quick to be disillusioned. As early as the 6th minute, a flash from Mauvaka, who sent Taofifenua into the stands with a dummy, set the scene. The in-form international hooker did it again on 33 minutes. Then Dupont, as incisive as ever off his inside support runners, scored the third try on 36 minutes.
Domingo Miotti’s boot, two penalties before the half-hour, limited the damage without turning the tide. Romain Ntamack, for his part, let his kicking do the talking in front of the posts. In the stands, some let out a sigh, Toulouse looking well on the way to a fourth consecutive title. The others savoured it.
Montpellier believe, Willis shuts the door
The second half revived Montpellier hopes through Justo Piccardo, the MHR’s Argentinian centre, who touched down on 41 minutes (Miotti conversion). Hooker Uelese came close to grounding a second try, but Lebel took him on shoulder to shoulder with consummate assurance. The wing then made a heavy error by deliberately putting the ball into touch, punished with a yellow card on 43 minutes. The Montpellier crowd started to believe.
But Jack Willis, the insatiable jackal, snuffed out every attack and got his hooks into every ruck. The Hérault side had been warned. Nothing worked, and Ntamack added three points on 52 minutes.
Montpellier’s fresh legs did not produce the expected jolt. Thomas Ramos’s arrival off the bench, on the other hand, was greeted by a deserved ovation, which woke up a crowd that had drifted slightly and was growing more and more anxious as the sky darkened. With good reason: violent thunderstorms forced the referee to halt the match just before the hour mark. Play resumed with a scrum five metres from the Toulouse line, a golden chance for the Cistes, worn out by repeatedly running into the red and black wall.
Coly revives hope, the Toulouse defence holds
Worn out, you said? Not really. Another surge came in the 63rd minute with a flash from Léo Coly, the future Bayonne player. Dummy, acceleration, step inside Ntamack, try and then the conversion straight after: seven more points with more than a quarter of an hour to go. So maybe…
Another commanding, incisive carry from Thomas Darmon sent shivers through the rows again, and the Toulouse supporters began to doubt. The tension showed on faces. Take Jordan Uelese, sitting on the replacements’ bench, biting his nails. Every refereeing decision was scrutinised, even contested.
73rd minute, Graou fluffed his up-and-under, everyone was offside. Montpellier got a penalty and Coly found a magnificent touch five metres from the opposition line. The stadium started to sing, to push, but Tolofua looped over Bécognée. As if it were a symbol, the best lineout in Top 14 wobbled at the worst possible moment.
Two minutes from the end, Barassi broke through but the ball was spilled, Taofifenua then Cadot slung the ball around, Nouchi got outside his man but Roumat made his cover tackle.
Toulouse into history, as in 1994-1997
In the end it was Toulouse who once again wrote themselves into history, as when they won four consecutive titles in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. While the supporters were exultant, the joy looked more measured out on the pitch. The Rouge et Noir are used to it now… Coming to dethrone the Toulouse ogre would take a resounding feat.
Montpellier, who put together a remarkable season two years after almost going down to Pro D2 and a tight play-off against Grenoble, can hold their heads high. The hammering some had predicted did not happen. Now comes rest for some and international duty for others.
The team sheet
Stade Toulousain 28 – 20 Montpellier (half-time: 20-6)
Toulouse: 3 tries Mauvaka (6th, 33rd), Dupont (36th) ; 2 conversions Ntamack ; 3 penalties Ntamack (25th, 39th, 52nd). Yellow card: Lebel (43rd).
Montpellier: 2 tries Piccardo (41st), Coly (63rd) ; 2 conversions Miotti, Coly ; 2 penalties Miotti (23rd, 28th).
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