MHR – Stade Toulousain: the feat against the double champion of France, is it possible for Montpellier ?

The MHR sees a Stade Toulousain arriving in full confidence this Saturday, September 21, a match counting for the 3rd day of Top 14. Is the mission impossible for Montpellier ?

It has become a bit of a rule. The team that faces Toulouse always strokes the red and black club in the right direction before the match, repeats that it is the best, the most beautiful, the strongest. For two reasons. First, because it is true. But above all, to try to install a hint of excess confidence in the minds of the Toulousains, to put pressure on their shoulders. “We take the best team in France, in Europe, even in the world”, declared this week the manager of the MHR, Joan Caudullo, a few days before hosting the double reigning French champion.

The ploy rarely works. In Montpellier, it hasn't worked for three and a half years (see figures). An inglorious drought. “When the players arrive in the locker room, they have a TV on which the date of the last victory is marked”, explained Caudullo. Probably the result from last May will also be displayed, just to recall the small humiliation inflicted by the Stade Toulousain C team on the GGL (22-29). Every element of motivation is good to take.

Trust insolent

This is what is even more annoying when it comes to Stade Toulousain. No matter which player is lined up, he will be as good, if not better, than its direct competitor. Everyone is inhabited by an insolent confidence in this club, almost betraying an ego a little bigger than the others. An impression surely explained by a touch of jealousy… 60~/p>

Also read: MHR- Stade Toulousain: Hogg starts, Verhaeghe on the bench, Jelonch returns, discover the lineups of the two teams

In short, all this to say that the mission that awaits the Montpellier team this Saturday afternoon, in a stadium that is expected to be full, is almost impossible. The reaction, the face and the state of mind shown against Perpignan last weekend (26-7) are positive signals. But, on paper, hardly enough to stand up to Ugo Mola's men.

“She knows how to do everything, even tributes”

“We talk a lot about the Toulouse style of play, the hand game. But this team is above all the best on the balls carried, in attack, in defense, in the scrum. It's a big machine. It knows how to do everything well. Even tributes. (…) We know the arduous task that awaits us. No relaxation is possible, otherwise the bill will be steep”, Caudullo knows.

La Rochelle, surely the only team to look Toulouse in the eye, saw this last week. In the match throughout the game, an avoidable yellow card from Paul Boudehent was enough for Thomas Ramos' teammates to turn a crumb into a baguette on the following action (final score: 35-27).

Read also: MHR – Toulouse: why Antoine Dupont will not play against Montpellier ? Unlike Anthony Jelonch

The Hérault attitudes are therefore the bare minimum desired by the Montpellier staff. The result ? No player enters a field to lose, of course. But the step is high. Very high. 

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