The Toulouse opener analyzes the incredible success of the reigning European champion against Munster. And recounts his funny mistake during the penalty shootout
By Ahmed Al Sarraf
At Dublin
Stade Toulousain defies predictions to stay in the race
“We have been tried to get out more than once this season, in the group stage (a defeat on green carpet in contradiction with the regulationsEditor’s note) and in 8and of final. We had scenarios against us, but we were always in the race and never dead even if we were eliminated from the 8th.and go to Toulouse (20-26 defeat, 30-23 victory on return to Belfast, Editor’s note). We never gave up and, once again today (Saturday), we didn’t give up despite the injuries, the glitches and an unfavorable context. It shows that this team has a lot of resources. We are in the semi-finals and it is very good for us but it is not the objective to stop in the semi-finals. So we’re going to prepare it as best we can.”
Matthis Lebel’s second try which puts Toulouse back in the game
“It’s worked during the week, in training. It’s good to see that this work is working. At this moment, this test does us a lot of good. We come back to three points and it takes a big blow to their morale, I think. It is perhaps the action that makes them capsize and that makes us pass in a state of mind a little more positive than them. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. But when it works, it does us a lot of good.”
Read alsoChampions Cup: the video summary of Toulouse’s penalty shoot-out victory against Munster
A qualification celebrated with moderation
“Because we didn’t have a lot of strength left. And also because of the respect we have for the Munster team and for its public. We are very respectful of their public because it was during the match and the penalty shootout. We were happy, but it was not necessary to make tons of it. We also know that we could have been in their place, that we could have lost. For all these reasons, there was no need to exult at the end. We’re very happy but we didn’t win anything in the end either…”
“I thought the penalty shootout was over. But apparently not, because when I raised my arms, I saw that no one was moving. I was a bit uneasy…”
Romain Ntamack
The incredible ending
“It’s the whole match that was incredible, because we play Munster at the Aviva, there is a large audience, all red and hot all match. Toulouse-Munster is a historic poster in the European Cup. There, there is a whole scenario which is fabulous and which smiles at us at the end. So we’re proud of that. And we will come back here in a week against Leinster… ”
The penalty shootout
“We decided quickly. Anthony (Dupont) took in the middle, I took a left, on my good foot, and Thomas (Ramos), who is most used to this exercise, took a right, on his bad foot. Everyone took their responsibilities. It was then necessary to remain in its bubble, to disregard the context and the stake. Just tell yourself that we’ve done this hundreds of times to get it through the posts. I hope this is a scenario that will not happen too often…”
Its celebration by mistake during the session
“I thought it was the first three kicks and, depending on those first three, we were going to the 40 meters or not. So I thought it was over. But apparently not, because when I raised my arms, I saw that no one was moving (laugh). I was a little uncomfortable, especially vis-à-vis the Munster. I apologized to the Irish players at the end…”
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