Urdapilleta: “If we finished first, it means we are good”
Urdapilleta on Canal +: “We never gave up, we finished the first period well but we had confidence, we knew we could win. We believe a lot in all the players in the team. We have confidence in everyone world, we knew that the bench was going to make us win the match. If we finished first, it’s because we’re good. The journalists don’t believe in us very much. But we made the sacrifices, that’s what I like it at this club. People say we don’t play well but we had confidence.”
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Jelonch: “Castres deserves its final”
Anthony Jelonch on Canal +: “We lacked discipline throughout the match, the two yellow cards hurt us a lot. It’s a big team, they showed realism, they were pragmatic, they even deserve their victory if it’s down to the details. It’s a shame, in the end we could have gone for the victory without putting on a great match. In Toulouse, we want to win titles. Tonight, we came across a very big team of Castres, they deserve their final and good luck to them, they had a great season.”
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CASTRES QUALIFIES FOR THE FINAL!
It is done ! Victory of Castres 24 to 18 against defending champion Toulouse and goes to the final of Top 14! What temperament on the part of the CO who never let go of anything in this meeting! Led by the golden foot of Urdapilleta (14 points and decisive on the try to win Dumora), the Tarnais will play for the title against the winner of the second half Montpellier-UBB!
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Last chance for Toulouse (CAS 24-18 TOU)
Last possession of the match for Stade Toulousain who have no room for error! It’s an incredible ending!
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THE DUMORAAAAA TEST! (CAS 24-18 TOU)
Castres is delirious after the winning try! Huge inspiration from Urdapilleta who puts a love of passing in the back of the defense! Nakosi collects and gives inside to Dumora who finishes the job. Great art! Urdapilleta misses the goal, 24 to 18!
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RAMOS IN CHECK AT THE FOOT (CAS 19-18 TOU)
Another penalty but this time for Toulouse! Chilachava is taken by the patrol and Ramos has the opportunity to restore the advantage to Toulouse. On the 30 meters in front of the poles, Ramos misses the goal!
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URDAPILLETA RESTORES THE ADVANTAGE! (CAS 19-18 TOU)
Penalty for the CO after a Toulouse offside! Obviously we will take the points on the Tarn side… Urdapilleta investigates, 19 to 18!
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Ramos misses his kick (CAS 16-18 TOU)
Thomas Ramos tries a mischievous indirect kick but it’s finally directly in touch! There will be a big opportunity for Castres!
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THE HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR TOULOUSE (CAS 16-18 TOU)
Magnificent Toulouse combination with Ramos who sends Lebel in the end! He tries to overtake Dumora but is pushed into touch!
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TOULOUSE BACK IN FRONT (CAS 16-18 TOU)
Penalty for Toulouse after a fault on the ground in Castres! Thomas Ramos takes his chance and adds three points! 18 to 16 for the Stadistes!
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Big contest of Meafou (CAS 16-15 TOU)
Barely entered the game, Meafou stands out with a brilliant scratch that allows his team to recover a scrum!
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THE FABULOUS TEST OF NTAMACK! (CAS 16-15 TOU)
This Stade Toulouse there, 10 against 11, is decidedly unsinkable! It sends play on all sides of the field and we find Ntamack who takes the interval, puts the canes and goes to flatten in a corner!
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CAAAAAASTRES TEST! (CAS 16-10 TOU)
Here is the first test of the CO! Taking advantage of a permanent advance of the pack, Arrata escapes alone, reviews three defenders and will flatten in two stages! Urdapilleta investigates, 16 to 10!
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IT’S OFF AGAIN IN NICE! (CAS 9-10 TOU)
We left for the last 40 minutes of this part between Toulouse and Castres!
Below, the try denied to Palis at the end of the first period. What do you think ?
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HALF-TIME IN NICE! TOULOUSE ONE POINTS AHEAD!
It’s the break at the Allianz Riviera! Toulouse leads 10 to 9 against Castres during the first 45 minutes of this semi-final! Stade Toulousain had launched the hostilities with a try from Lebel after one minute and a half but the CO gradually returned to this match thanks to the boot of Urdapilleta. The Toulousains took two yellow cards and were hot in front of their in-goal!
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URDAPILLETA PASSES THREE POINTS BEFORE THE BREAK (CASE 9-10 TOU)
Castres coaches decide to take the points rather than try! Urdapilleta investigates, 10 to 9!
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THE PALIS TEST… REFUSED! (CAS 6-10 TOU)
After a series of pick and go, Toulouse cracks for the first time! Very ingenious pass to the foot of Urdapilleta and Palis seems to flatten… but it’s refused! The referee did not see any pressure on the video referee! The Castres do not understand and the referee, validated by a long video break, explains.
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YELLOW CARD FOR DEALER! (CAS 6-10 TOU)
Big pressure on Toulouse which is pushed in front of its in-goal! Double advantage for the CO then yellow card for Julien Marchand! The hooker comes and claps Arrata’s hand!
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Toulouse dominates the Castres attack (CAS 6-10 TOU)
What a huge defense from Toulouse who repel all attacks from Castres! Behind, they get a penalty and things are heating up between the two teams!
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Toulouse makes mistakes (CAS 6-10 TOU)
In addition to the penalties conceded, Stade Toulousain committed a few unusual handling errors in this meeting.
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CO STICKS UP A LITTLE (CASE 6-10 TOU)
The game has been clearly balanced for a few minutes and the CO even recovers a penalty for a fault on the ground. Urdapilleta indicates the posts, on the 45 meters. And it passes, 10 to 6!
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YELLOW CARD FOR ARNOLD (CASE 3-10 TOU)
Suspicion of high tackle from Arnold who takes a yellow card after viewing the images! There is contact but no danger.
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URDAPILLETA OPENS SCORE FOR CO (CAS 3-10 TOU)
Finally a reaction from the CO with a penalty attempted and then successful by Benjamin Urdapilleta! 10 to 3!
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The CO in difficulty (CAS 0-10 TOU)
Another penalty against Castres and this time it’s a fault on the ground! Ntamack does not find the key and Dumora raises quickly.
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RAMOS ADDS THREE POINTS (CASE 0-10 TOU)
Penalty for Stade Toulousain obtained by the Haut-Garonne pack on a good scrum! Thomas Ramos shows the poles … And it goes, 10 to 0!
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NTAMACK MISSES THE DROP! (CASE 0-7 TOU)
Toulouse tries to bring back points as soon as possible and Ntamack puts himself in a drop position. It passes by!
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Le 50-22 de Ramos ! (CAS 0-7 TOU)
What a huge kick from Thomas Ramos who finds an indirect touch from 22 meters … in the opposing 22! It’s a 50-22, touch for Toulouse!
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Toulouse tries to take the wing (CAS 0-7 TOU)
When Toulouse decides to accelerate, nothing can stop them! Akhi advances 15 meters and the game bounces off Ramos who attempts a pass on foot… It’s direct!
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CO TEST REFUSED! (CASE 0-7 TOU)
What a pity for the CO with an overflow from Ben Nicholas well launched by Babillot! The 3rd center line tries to find Nakosi inside but his pass is forward! The winger had scored!
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Kicking in all directions (CAS 0-7 TOU)
Both teams abuse the kicking game and in this little game, Castres is doing well and finds a good touch!
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Palis got scared (CAS 0-7 TOU)
Already a big blow for the CO with the injury of Geoffrey Palis in a duel with Jelonch! He got a little electrified but will take his place!
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LEBEEEEEEL FOR THE FIRST TRY! (CASE 0-7 TOU)
Incredible start to the Toulouse match! It goes in all directions with a first big departure from Dupont which does not succeed. A few playing times later, Lebel takes an interval found by Ntamack, takes out his rods and goes to plant a try of 35 meters alone! Ramos transforms, 7 to 0!
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CASTRES-TOULOUSE KICK-OFF! (CASE 0-0 TOU)
And here we go for this first Top 14 semi-final between defending champions Stade Toulousain and the first of the regular phase, Castres Olympique!
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Another record for Toulouse
Toulouse will play its 12th Top 14 semi-final, a record (Clermont has played 11). He won 6 and lost 5.
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A fierce duel
This is the fourth time that Castres and Toulouse have faced each other in the final phase since the creation of the Top 14 in 2005. The Stade won twice, in the play-off in 2010 (35-12) and in the semi-finals in 2012 (24 -15), but the CO won the last duel, in the dam in 2018 (23-11).
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Arata rather than Fernandez, classic for the CO
The Castres management decided to align the Uruguayan Santiago Arata in the scrum, Jérémy Fernandez being relegated to the bench (Kockott is absent from the score sheet).
In the center, Botitu will form a pair with Combezou and the attacking triangle will be composed of the usual Julien Dumora, Geoffrey Palis and Filipo Nakosi. In front, we find the same warriors with Babillot, Staniforth or Barlot.
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The composition of the CO!
Dumora, Palis, Combezou, Botitu, I lie ; (o) Urdapilleta, (m) Arata ; De Crespigny, Ben Nicholas, Babillot ; Staniforth, Vanverberg ; Hounkpatin, Barlot, Walker.
Replacements: Ngauamo, De Benedittis, Jacquet, Delaporte, Fernandez, Cocagi, Zeghdar, Chilachava.
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Change ahead, not behind
Ugo Mola has decided to make no less than 3 changes, all within the pack, for this semi-final. It is Selevasio Tolofua who will start in n°8 after the injury of Cros, Jelonch slips on a flank of the 3rd line.
Back from suspension, Charlie Faumuina regains his starting position as the right pillar, while Dorian Aldegheri will start on the bench. Finally, strong choice made with the return as holder of captain Julien Marchand, Peato Mauvaka will therefore be on the bench
The game will obviously be led by the international hinge Antoine Dupont-Romain Ntamack, while Thomas Ramos will always be the back and scorer. In the center, Pita Ahki will once again pair up with Pierre Fouyssac.
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The Toulouse XV!
Ramos; Mallia, Fouyssac, Ahki, Lebel; (o) Ntamack, (m) Dupont; Elstadt, Tolofua, Jelonch; Ri. Arnold, Ro. Arnold; Faumuina, Marchand, Baille.
Replacements: Mauvaka, Ainu’u, Meafou, Flament, Placines, Germain, Sword, Aldegheri.
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CASTRES-TOULOUSE, KICK OFF FOR THE 1/2 AT 9:05 PM!
Good evening everyone and welcome to RMC Sport to follow the first semi-final of the Top 14 between Stade Toulousain and Castres Olympique live! Winner in the La Rochelle barrage (33-28), defending champion Toulouse will challenge the first in the standings for the regular phase. An undecided duel to follow from 9:05 p.m. at the Allianz Riviera in Nice!
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