Declared beaten, the reigning European champion is no longer in control of his destiny and could, according to certain scenarios, find himself eliminated from the race for the round of 16.
The match between Toulouse, defending champion, and Cardiff, scheduled for Saturday on the occasion of the 4th day of the European Cup, was canceled due to Covid-19 contamination in the Toulouse ranks and Cardiff declared winner on green carpet , the organizer announced on Friday.
“The risk of additional contamination having been deemed too great, it was unfortunately decided to cancel the match. As a result, the Cardiff Rugby club was awarded the Pool A game 28-0 with five ranking points, in accordance with tournament rules.“Said the EPCR (European professional club rugby) in a press release.
Stade Toulousain had nevertheless tried it. Tried to force the EPCR’s hand by revealing a squad line-up early this morning to face Cardiff. Certainly without, among others, Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Cyril Baille, Anthony Jelonch or Peato Mauvaka, so many Blues tested positive for Covid this Thursday. 23 players lined up to try to keep up appearances. But that wasn’t enough.
Read alsoAffected by the Covid, the Stade Toulousain deprived of Dupont, Ntamack, Jelonch…
On the Cardiff side, we did not want to face the reigning European champion. Of course, for fear of losing. But also for fear of being contaminated by a team which had presented a dozen positive cases at the start of the week and additional cases this Thursday. How to know if the players who tested positive that day would not have become positive this Saturday…
In the middle of the day, a first sign announced the verdict. The charter flight between Cardiff and Toulouse was cancelled. Shortly before 3 p.m., the decision of the EPCR fell. The organizing body of the European competition canceled the meeting and gave the match lost to Stade Toulousain 28 to 0 on green carpet.
Stade Toulousain on the verge of elimination
A decision that can have serious consequences. With only 7 points in 4 days (a victory in Cardiff, a draw on green carpet against Wasps, a defeat at Wasps and this match lost 28-0), Stade Toulousain is on the verge of elimination. Everything will depend on the results of the other meetings. The title holder should go through a mouse hole, the different elimination scenarios being rather complicated to achieve. But there will be, at best, a consequence. Toulouse will be among the last qualified for the round of 16 against a big opponent.
First effect of this defeat on green carpet, the UBB (whose match in Leicester on Saturday is on hold after the appearance of positive cases in the Bordeaux ranks …), is assured of its qualification for the eighth of final.