A poster worthy of a Top 14 or European Cup final was needed to get more than 18,000 spectators out of their homes one evening on January 1. In two days with the return of the gauges, they will only be able to be 5,000 in this same stage for many weeks. The poster of kings, it was there this Saturday evening at Marcel Michelin where Clermont and the Toulouse Stadium started 2022 eye to eye and in a harsh and tight face-to-face.
Since the Top 14 is so called, since the 2005-2006 season, Toulouse has never won in Auvergne. Stade Toulouse remains on a series of 14 defeats for a single draw. Series in progress because once again, the reigning champions of France and Europe have failed.
By putting Antoine Dupont the best player in the world at rest, the Toulouse have chosen to leave an advantage aside. But they still opened hostilities from the 5th minute with the first try of Juan Cruz Mallia transformed by Thomas Ramos (0-7). A short-lived benefit. In this tight and indecisive showdown, the two teams went blow for blow. From the 13th minute, Clermont made up again after a try of Yohan Beheregaray transformed by the Irish striker Hanrahan (7-7). A new penalty from Ramos (28th) still allowed Toulouse to breathe and return to the locker room with three points ahead (7-10).
But the Stadistes did not score enough in the second half to preserve this advantage. They scored less in any case than the Clermontois who equalized on another penalty from Hanrahan (42nd, 10-10) from the start. Followed a drop and a penalty from Camille Lopez (68th, 13-10; 74th, 16-10). A new penalty from Ramos (77th, 16-13) made the Auvergne public shudder but the Yellows did not crack to win 16-13.
Toulouse has not won at Clermont since 2002. “Winning against Stade Toulousain is a great way to start the year and the second part of the season. This is a step and we must continue ”, confided Camille Lopez at the microphone of Canal +. “There is frustration in failing at just three points”, regrets Romain Ntamack.