Counter-attack kings Toulouse will provide test of unpredictability for Leinster
Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster has labeled Toulouse the ‘best counter-attacking team’ they’ve played against, delivering high-praise to the first team to beat Leinster in Europe since April 2017.
Ugo Mola’s re-born Toulouse side is a dangerous proposition, undefeated since shocking Leinster 28-27 in the first leg of pool play.
On that afternoon, Toulouse made 17 clean breaks to Leinster’s eight and offloaded 17 times to Leinster’s five. They won the turnover battle 5-4, and despite holding just 40% possession won by a solitary point.
On the face of it, the stats don’t mean much but show a glimpse into Toulouse’s philosophy under Mola. As Lancaster explained, over half of their tries have come from counter-attacks. It has become woven into their DNA, thriving on disruption and playing a free-flowing brand of rugby on the back of chaos.
Forcing turnovers and flipping the script quickly, keeping the ball alive as long as possible if they get a sniff. The offloading is critical to that, where players seem to have a license to throw 50-50’s once the ball has been won and a half break presents.
Instead of falling into a structure, Toulouse desires to keep the game in an unstructured state if they can. Fullback Thomas Romas (34 offloads last year), in particular, is critical in setting up kick-counter play and has a knack for freeing up the ball.
They still use the offloading game during phase play to open up teams using the likes of juggernaut lock Joe Tekori (36 offloads last year) and Florian Verhaeghe (14 offloads). There are promoters of the ball everywhere across the team, possessing a high-level of skill.
Toulouse may have had their best attacking weapon on the bench in their last meeting.
21-year-old halfback Antoine Dupont came on and played flyhalf, showing glimpses of his potential with sharp touches. He is a unique player that might just be the best halfback in the world in the next five years, with many similarities to Faf de Klerk.
Against Wasps he finished with two tries and a try assist, using his playmaking around the ruck and was rewarded with great support play. His running game is electric, which Toulouse finds many ways to switch on, and his defence is ferocious in the de Klerk fashion.
Toulouse would be wise to start him in this vein of form and throw something different at Leinster they didn’t have to deal with in the first match.
Make no mistake, this Toulouse side is a strong defensive outfit. They dared Leinster to test the edge early and forced them into touch almost every time, which lead to frustration and further errors for the visitors. Although Leinster were able to arrest control in the second half and play with periods of stability, Toulouse were able to disrupt them just enough to win. The final intercept was a heads-up play made based on the predictability of Leinster’s carries.
One of the leaders of that defensive effort was hooker Julien Marchand, a young energetic force that possesses an all-around game promising world-class potential. He defends stoutly in close channels, is strong over the ball, has brilliant ball skills, a large motor, surprising burst of speed and offers powerful carries. He won two crucial penalties over the ball in the first match that contributed to three points and rubbed out one Leinster red zone possession. He is a mobile athlete, which is a characteristic of the youth in Toulouse’s tight five unit.
They have youthful French players that provide the speed at which the pack can play to complement the experienced players like Charlie Fau’muina, Tekori, Jerome Kaino who bring the physicality. Aforementioned lock Verhaeghe is just 21-year-old, as is number eight Selevasio Tolofua, while Marchand is just 23.
A trip to the RDS will be a tough ask but if any team is capable of doing it, it is Toulouse, who is one of the top two sides in the Top 14. With doubts over Johnny Sexton and Devin Toner’s availability, James Lowe’s suspension, Leinster is arguably in a vulnerable position without some of their biggest stars for a pressure-cooker Pool 1 decider.
Leinster need accuracy and discipline which has been amiss recently, as demonstrated in the visit to Thomond Park just before the New Year. A second loss to Toulouse wouldn’t end Leinster’s drive for five, but it would tarnish the invincibility aura that is beginning to erode and make a fifth European title that much more difficult to win this year.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Must be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
3 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
3 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
3 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
25 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
25 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
25 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to comments