Burning recovery of the best 14

With the summer break over, the Elite Fourteen are back on the court this weekend. In front of their supporters, they are finally allowed to numbers with a healthy aisle, and with an appetite.

Untouchable Toulouse Stadium?

Last June, Toulouse won 21^NS Prinus shield in his history, after lifting the European Cup for the fifth time. consecutive records. Rouge et Noir, after several seasons at the bottom of the wave, finds outposts. And their dominance may continue.

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On orders from Ugo Mola, Stade Toulousain has found his DNA, this game is in disarray, made up of a thousand races and many passes. Above all, the most successful club in French rugby history can count on a golden generation, with Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamak and Julien Marchand at the helm of the bill. And Chaceline Colby’s brilliant departure for Toulon shouldn’t be punished too much. Last year, Mattis Lebel broke the all-time high, finishing second on the 14th top scorer (13 attempts). Will we see a long reign for Toulouse as in the nineties (5 titles between 1994 and 1999)? “There are certain sectors that we want to develop and increase compared to last season, Maxime Medard presents an interview with figaro. We must respect our DNA, and continue to be bold.” Competition is prohibited.

Transfers: Biarritz hitting hard

The rugby transition window has been lively this summer. Many of the big names in the Southern Hemisphere have chosen to go into exile in the Top 14 list. The biggest hit was signed by Stade Français Paris with New Zealand center Ngani Laumape (12°), also coveted by Toulon.

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Biarritz, returning to the elite after a seven-year absence, was the club’s most active with Wallabies center recruiting, Tevita Kuridrani (61sec), Irish columnist James Cronin, new third streak. Zeeland Elliot Dixon and Argentinian scrum half Thomas Copley. As for the Movers, Baptiste Bisente Pau left for the 92nd and Argentine Thomas Lavanini returned to France to boost the Clermont group. Also note the arrival of opening player Paolo Garbisi in Montpellier, the Italian rugby block.

New rules, more gameplay?

The International Rugby Union, put in place new rules aimed at promoting entertainment but also to protect the health of players. In terms of gameplay, it’s the end of the players (up to three!) who form a chain, a kind of mini-movement, behind a group to protect their half. Purges will be judged with more severity, so that they are less dangerous.

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But the rule that can upset the game is the “50:22” rule. From now on, the team that, from its own camp, finds an indirect touch at the opponent 22 meters, will recover the throw. Ditto, if, from a distance of 22 meters, she finds a touch in the opposite camp, she will have a throw in her favour. The idea for this new rule, inspired by rugby union, is to free up spaces in defences, as the defending teams will have to protect the third curtain. It remains to be seen how this will be used in France, where we tend to look for loopholes in the rules rather than enforce them. “This is the problem of the Latins, International referee Roman Buet tells us. The British are trying to work with Al Qaeda. We are rather working against…but we have no concerns, this is not a fundamental change in rugby.”