Analysis: How Toulon use their jumbo-sized midfielders Ma'a Nonu and Mathieu Bastareaud
Big spending Toulon’s arsenal of world-class backs gives them any number of potential combinations each week.
However, in their European Champions Cup win against Bath, they fielded their biggest possible mid-field: the supersized combo of Ma’a Nonu and Mathieu Bastareaud, giving them two noted power runners to fuel their attack.
Toulon rely on the brutal running of Bastareaud, and compliment that with the full range of Nonu’s attacking game.
This is how they play them:
Bastareaud-ball
The Frenchman is the preferred carrier of the two, with Toulon using him as a workhorse on set-piece carries to build a platform and restart play. There are no subtleties about it, Bastareaud is fed the ball directly off the base of the scrum and let loose at the opposition 9-10 channel.
Toulon’s exit plan, if they are not camped on their own line, is Bastareaud. They will look for a strong carry out of their own 22 and keep the ball in hand – not clear with a kick.
At a whopping 128 kgs, he is more than a handful for inside backs. He gets across the gain line more often than not, taking out multiple defenders and giving Toulon front-foot ball.
Their forwards usually take the second carry the same way, removing more back defenders (usually the 10 or 12) which sets up the backs for a third phase strike.
By the third phase, the opposition forward pack is under immense pressure to get up from the scrum and around the corner. Halfback Alby Matheson (9) is about to release his pass with Nonu (12), Ashton (15) and Tuisova (14) in play against a scrambling Bath defensive line.
Build and release
This pattern is typical of Toulon play – forward carries in pods moving the same way for a few phases and then a release to the backs.
It’s worth noting that it is foreign for Nonu to play this way – the 2-4-2 and 1-3-3-1 structures used in New Zealand intersperse forwards throughout the backs, limiting the opportunities for a backline to work together during phases. The backs really only get a ‘clean’ line (no forwards) off a set piece scrum or full man lineout – but in Toulon’s structure, it is common to find this in general play.
The downside of this pattern is the backs will only touch the ball every three or four phases, but the benefit is they have time to prepare and run set plays during phase play.
One of Toulon’s go-to plays is a simple ‘ID’ screen pass, with Bastareaud running a short option and Nonu floating out behind. This gives Nonu a chance on the fringe to use his passing game. On this play, Ashton (15) slides in giving Nonu an inside option.
As the play unfolds, Bath centre Jonathan Joseph is sucked in to cover the Bastareaud line and Nonu will be presented with a two-on-one overlap on the edge, which frees Radradra down the touchline.
Running men
One notable feature of this structure is just how much running the midfielders Nonu and Bastareaud undertake during play. They are expected to play on both sides of the field, so when play moves to the far right, they need to reset the backline on the left. Often you will find Nonu at 13 and Bastareaud at 12, as the lighter Nonu can track back and forth faster.
Keep an eye on Nonu leading up to his try, he almost can’t keep up as Toulon go from around two or three forward carries to just one each time before releasing the backs.
Power-duo
Whilst Bastareaud is the primary power runner, Nonu on occasion will take a hit-up run or provide an option line. On these occasions, we see both the fleet footwork or bruising physicality of Nonu’s game. His ability to find space on carries is unrivalled for any 35-year-old centre, and many younger internationals still don’t compare.
What makes this combination work is Nonu is so versatile. He does everything: power carries, option line-running, first receiver duties and playmaking duties. If Toulon wants to bash you, they can use both runners. If they want to play expansive, they use Bastareaud to create a platform and let Nonu play off the back of it.
Despite having size, the pairing is far from one-dimensional.
Comments on RugbyPass
What a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
91 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
1 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
2 Go to commentsThis is the most exciting game of the summer imo, as we really won’t know in advance how both teams are going to play. - Will Robertson just reproduce his Crusaders tactics from last year, or will there be a conscious effort to borrow from the Hurricanes and Blues, and from the aspects of the ABs world cup strategy that worked well? - England under Borthwick have put in some good performances playing attacking rugby, and some good performances playing kick-oriented defensive rugby. Will Borthwick try to merge them together into a single all-court game, or will he continue switching between different approaches depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition?
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
1 Go to commentsI’m predicting an aggregate points difference of no more than +/-10pts across both matches this series.
9 Go to commentsFinals are always tense affairs for the players so I do not expect this to be a spectacle of running rugby unfortunately.
2 Go to commentsBulls***': Ex-England international calls out Eben Etzebeth… Not to his face but from very far away… after he’d left. Checked to make sure he wasn’t in the building.
91 Go to commentsHopefully this will mean a new Auckland league team to support in the west. Big Warriors fan but it’s very, very stale on that front and I’d like the option of another team if it was to watch league again. League needs to step up BIG time if its to get anywhere, another AK team and something from the capitol or south is a must for the game.
3 Go to commentsGood, deep interview, nice job Frankie!
1 Go to commentsNRL players don’t have anywhere near the number of Tests. Some people would be happy having Rest Homes full if 40 yo ex-players walking, or hobbling more like it, into walls. It’s just a game!
4 Go to commentsNOW Razor is worried about ABs getting injured or overplayed! Didn’t bother him last year. He happily played his AB Crusaders.
4 Go to commentsWhat is the World Rugby U20 players born year.
2 Go to commentsMuch like the Chiefs finally gave up waiting for Atu Moli to ever not be injured, you have to wonder if the Chiefs and Crusaders will let Josh Lord and Ethan Blackadder go next season. They’re being well paid to sit in the injury ward every year. Better off putting those funds towards someone who might actually play.
7 Go to commentsShowed better basic skills than some nz Super sides, who probably would have botched some of those backline moves. This tournament really is too short though. Needs more teams, or have them play two rounds to properly prepare them for the near full-time NH U20 sides.
4 Go to commentsGood grief it’s only six months. Probably just upset it’s not an established kiwi entering their prime they can “project” into green to join the rest.
2 Go to commentsGood player but far from being best in the world. That's an exaggeration. Perhaps Best in world by Northern Hemisphere standards and biasis but certainly not Southern Hemi standards
3 Go to commentsWell one thing about World Cup knock out rounds and Ireland is very clear: they won’t be getting ahead of themselves in ‘27! Because making it beyond the QF is well and truly ‘IN THEIR HEADS’ now…😉
91 Go to commentsHas this guy been dope tested? Sounds like a case of “roid rage”.
1 Go to commentsI would like to see him say that to Eben face to face in a dark alley.
91 Go to comments