Bob Dwyer Rugby Workshops

Toulouse v Sale Sharks. Sunday, 11^th October, 2009.

For some weeks now, after a less than impressive start to their France Top14 campaign, some Toulouse players have explained that they are trying to play the “beautiful game” which they believe they are capable of. They have suggested that this, plus a determination on the part of their long-time coach, Guy Noves, to play all of their most impressive squad, can excuse their somewhat fragile form to date.

On the evidence of this performance, albeit against an injury weakened Sale Sharks team, they could be right. Toulouse indeed played the “beautiful game” and the final score-line of 36-17 does not give a true picture of Toulouse’s dominance. It does, however, point to Sale’s refusal to lie down and to their determination to take something back home with them.

An early try from fullback Max Medart, set up by a wipers kick from the majestic JB Elissalde, showed Toulouse’s intention to shift the ball, running at pace, at every opportunity. Their third try, to Vincent Clerc, again from an Elissalde wipers kick – although this time from the scrum-half spot – showed Toulouse, and rugby, at its best . The ball was first shifted by the backs who stretched the Sale defensive qualities. The smallest opportunity was exploited by the chasing Toulouse forwards and scrum-half, Byron Keleher, and this opened up the gaps in the middle of the pitch. Off to the backs again from the recycle and they took play to the 5 metre line. A quick recycle to the arriving Elissalde,  who spotted Clerc unmarked way over on the openside wing, and he calmly drop-punted the ball into the hands of Clerc, by now waiting in the in-goal area. There is virtually no defence to this quality of attack.

The game was virtually out of reach for Sale by half-time at 24-3, three tries to nil, and Toulouse dominating virtually every facet of the game. A fourth try to replacement wing, Yves Donguy, in the opening minutes of the second half, threatened a landslide, but Sale battled back gamely. Elissalde missed the sideline conversion and this marked the first blemish, if we can call it a blemish, in an otherwise flawless 45 mins by Toulouse.

A noticeable slowing in the pace of Toulouse’s attack gave Sale their first real period of opportunity and only determined defence by Toulouse denied them. This was much appreciated by the home crowd, who responded in support of this effort as they had to the earlier attacking displays.

The Toulouse scrum stayed strong, strengthened as it was with quality substitutions, and difficult ball became turnover ball. Sale had been desperate to get a try on the board and Keleher spotted the subsequent hole in behind. His kick ahead was well within the reach of the chasing Donguy, who scored his second try of the half,  despite being tackled without the ball.

At 36-3, Toulouse slacked off somewhat, but were still dangerous. Sale showed real fighting qualities to seize their opportunities and take two late tries, the first to lock – although normally a prop – Rob O’Donnell and the second to England World Cup winger, Ben Cohen.

Sale had some good performances. James Gaskell looked the quality player that we know he is. Ripoll, on the wing, was quick and elusive. John Kennedy shows real promise and an indication that the Sale Academy is working well. Rob O’Donnell is big and strong and carried the ball with balance and power. Could someone please ask Ben Cohen to have a look in the mirror, and stop kicking the ball!

The day, however, belonged to Toulouse.

I love the ‘shape’ of their game. (Note: We must never use the word ‘structure’ again. It has come to mean everything that can be horrible about our game.)

Their forwards chase the ball and make, and often take, opportunities around the tackle contest. Their scrum-half chases also and plays, almost all of the time, behind his forwards – not out in the centres, as has become fashionable in many parts of the world. As a result, he clears the ball accurately, almost always to his fly-half – his is, after all, the player best equipped for this task. The fly-half is then the ball distributor and he chooses his options accordingly. How much better is this than the mind-numbing boredom of the flat ball to the flat forward receiver, who is then “flattened” by the defence.

Toulouse rarely, if ever, play a “first and second  line” of attack; the style that uses the decoys (not) flat, to make space (not) for the second line. They want their quality backs to make space for support players. That support can be wider, or closer. It is up to the inside support, mostly forwards, to get behind the ball-carrier to take advantage. “Chase the ball and loop in around the ball-carrier at the tackle”, is the order of the day. The great Mark Ella used to refer to this as the “natural loop”, and natural, and simple, it is. As a result, there were many off-loads at the tackle contest, hugely increasing the pressure on the defence.

Their backs were always deep enough to allow the pass in front of the receiver. The pace of their attacking line was then never compromised. It is worth comparing this with the opposite shape and results from Sale.

There were quality performances all round the park from Toulouse. Keleher is the perfect foil for the brilliance of Elissalde (or Michalak) and the backrow trio on either side of him. Jauzion and Fritz are similarly the perfect foil for the back three – and they’ve got a few choices.

The tight forwards have pace, skill and grunt. Census Johnson is certainly a handful from 5 metres out.

But I thought that the standout was Louis Picamoles. He was outstanding on tour in New Zealand against serious opposition and he has taken up again where he left off. And surely, Bouilhou, at blindside flanker,  will play many more tests for France.

Note to all coaches, players and officials. If we want players and spectators to enjoy the game, and be successful, watch and note the beautiful simplicity of the Toulouse game.