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Toulouse close ranks

Tuesday 20th May 2008

Strength in depth: Players like Maxime Médard have come to the fore

Five days ahead of Toulouse's Heineken Cup Final against Munster in Cardiff, the French club as battened down the hatches in preparation for Saturday - preparation which started many weeks ago and has been refined to the finest detail.

The hype surrounding the Toulouse squad has reached fever pitch. In typical fashion the doors at Ernest Wallon stadium have been firmly closed to all outsiders, including the press, for the last few days and will remain so until the team leaves for Wales on Thursday.

A brief appearance by a handful of players and coaches at a press conference on Monday saw questions from the overwhelming number of journalists present being drawn from a hat!

With so much attention centred on the former champions, Backs Coach and former Toulouse player Philippe Rougé-Thomas explained that the team remained concentrated on the task at hand by giving each individual responsibilities to focus on.

"We have to, above all, stay concentrated on the work that needs to be done this week," he told lesite.

"Each individual must remain within his role and concentrate on being precise. There's no room for laxity when it comes to a final.

"We've done some good work collectively and individually to specify the role of each person. It's up to the players to respect this framework and not to diverge from it."

Much has been made of the three-time champions' injury worries in recent months, but for Rougé-Thomas the perennial problem has had a silver lining.

"It's not necessarily been more complicated than other years," he said.

"During the World Cup we could work for three months without our internationals. And we're seeing the results at the end of the season. We're seeing guys like [Yves] Donguy, [Maleli] Kunavore or[ Maxime] Médard come to the fore. So, the work we did in the inter-season has been profitable.

"Stade Toulousain is used to juggling with injuries, though less so with all these injuries in the same positions. We had a difficult period but it's behind us now. We're going to try use the good weather to prepare for Munster serenely."

As a former player and now as assistant coach, Rougé-Thomas is perfectly placed to comment on the secrets behind Head Coach Guy Novès's longevity and success at Toulouse's helm.

"He has a major savoir-faire: man-management," explained the former international fly-half.

"He's very stringent of course, but as much with himself as with others. He's been able to make the structures at the club evolve. Above all he's exceptionally competitive.

"I knew him as a player and he was the coach when we won the French championship in 1989. I'm fortunate enough to be at his side and I'm very honoured. Even if we're friends, it's a relationship without concessions when it comes to work because we need to keep advancing."

Having appeared in three Heineken Cup finals in the last five years - winning two of them- and firmly on course for a European-French double, Toulouse's position amongst Europe's top clubs is undisputed. Their Back-Line Coach believes their success lies beyond the power of their cheque book.

"At Toulouse, you lose a final and it's immediately seen as a failed season from the exterior," he said.

"We don't see things in those terms. Getting to a final is difficult enough in itself. Ditto for winning. So two in one season...

"With the Six Nations, the World Cup, we are often heavily involved in not just two competitions but four or five since Stade Toulousain remains a major contributor to the French National Team. And it's an honour for us, even if it is detrimental. Up until now, we've always given our best and have not come out too badly for it."

The catch phrase at Ernest-Wallon seems to be to "keep advancing." The coaching team in la Ville Rose places such a high premium on progress because the standard of rugby in Europe is ever increasing.

"We've realised that all the competitions have raised their level," said Rougé-Thomas.

"There are no more small games in the Top 14. I'm told we stumbled against Montauban [Toulouse's last match in the Top 14 which they won 28-6] who are seventh in the championship, and we beat them by three tries and scored a bonus point a week ahead of the European Cup Final. I find it was a good performance."

The 'big red machine' from the Haute-Garrone region of France is famous for tits back-line prowess, but their opponents on Saturday are no slouches and are being given a healthy dose of respect.

"They've brought a new dimension this season with their two powerful centres [Lifeimi Mafi and Rua Tipoki], explained he 47-year-old who has two European and a French domestic title under his coaching belt.

"Traditionally Munster have a massive pack and an axis with a very good kicking game. The incorporation of the two centres and [Doug] Howlett has changed the system a little.

"They're a top performing team, that are never far from the mark in the Heineken Cup. It's no surprise to see them in the final."

Rougé-Thomas was however remaining tight-lipped when asked to comment on what he thought the key aspects of the match would be.

"I'll tell you after the match," said Rougé-Thomas with a smile.

"There are no more forgone conclusions in rugby. This season, we've had the pleasure of constructing an enthusiastic and tightly-knit enlarged group. We're relishing the frame of mind present in the group."