Toulouse coach Ugo Mola had “experienced very badly” last year the last-minute postponement, due to a rebound from the Covid-19 epidemic, of the gala match that his team was due to play on the 26th December against Stade Français.
Thus, after having overwhelmed the Englishman of Sale (45-19) on the intercontinental scene on Sunday, he already had his head turned towards the reception of Castres this Friday (21:00) at the Stadium for the 2022 edition of “Boxing Day ”, appointment now consolidated in the Top 14 calendar, on the model of English football, which does not stop during the holidays.
You must take advantage of this event, in front of a full stadium, with all the families of Toulouse present for Christmas. It’s a great time to be alive.
Ugo Mola, coach of Toulouse
His Toulouse, solid championship leaders with five points ahead of Racing 92, does not intend to give gifts to their neighbors Castres, who beat them last season in a semifinal (24-18) that got stuck in the throat.
He will be without Thomas Ramos, who was sent off against Sale and faces a heavy suspension, but fellow international full-back Melvyn Jaminet, who has recovered from an ankle injury, should return on time.
Mignoni finds the LOU
Rugby’s “Boxing Day” will begin on Thursday (9pm) with Toulon-Lyon, the poster for the last European Challenge final won by the Lyonnais (30-12) in spring.
Former LOU coach Pierre Mignoni has since moved on to the Var, where his work in tandem with Franck Azéma is still slow to bear fruit. RCT, only 9th in the table, must notably be forgiven for their last two defeats in Mayol, against Montpellier (26-16) and Racing (31-14).
Between a long trip to South Africa and a frustrating setback against Saracens (28-20), Lyon (6th) have left their feathers in the European Cup, unlike La Rochelle, who will try to ride their good momentum.
Impressive against Northampton (46-12) and Ulster (36-29), the European champion from La Rochelle (4th) will host its rival from the Atlantic coast, Bordeaux-Bègles (8th) on Friday (6.45pm), still in recovery.
The reigning French champion, Montpellier (5th), will try to forget against Perpignan (13th) his “non-match” at home against the Welsh Ospreys (21-10) last weekend.
High-altitude Île-de-France derby
The maintenance tender will be played simultaneously remotely during two other regional shocks: in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques between Béarnais de Pau (12th) and Basques de Bayonne (7th), and in the Massif Central between Brive (14th) and Clermont (10th °).
Finally, second place will be up for grabs on Saturday (15:00) in a high-flying Ile-de-France derby between Racing, who remain on their five-game winning streak in the Top 14, and Stade Français, a surprising three lengths behind from his best enemy.
