The Stade Toulousain showcased their remarkable dominance at home, crushing Aviron Bayonnais with a commanding score of 41-6 on Saturday during the 17th round of the Top 14 championship. Garnering significant attention, this match served as another affirmation of Toulouse's strength, particularly after their recent victory against Clermont last week.
After topping the standings following their impressive away performance (35-18), the expectations were high for the "Rouge et Noir" as they faced Bayonne, who had previously shown promise by upsetting the Union Bordeaux-Bègles with a narrow 36-32 win. Yet, the encounter proved to be entirely one-sided at the Stade Ernest-Wallon.
The match on February 22 quickly turned from hopeful for Bayonne to grim, with Toulouse demonstrating their capability across all facets of play. Within the initial minutes, Toulouse displayed their attacking prowess, scoring several tries with ease, notching up seven overall and allowing only six points throughout the match. This led to validating the predictions and analyses surrounding their potential.
Coached by Ugo Mola, Toulouse faced the match without the contributions of eleven international players on duty for the Six Nations, including stars like Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack. Nonetheless, Toulouse's depth shone through as they maintained their status with assertiveness. Juan Cruz Mallia, traditionally an elusive player, was positioned at fly-half and left no doubt about his capability, registering the game's first try before delivering precision passing throughout the evening.
After the match, Mallia, who received top ratings for his performance, was described as the driving force behind Toulouse's success. With both speed and agility, his exceptional play included two key assists and contributes to the overall impressive stats he posted: two tries, two assists, and almost 100 running meters. His pace made it difficult for Bayonne to mount any substantial defensive response, and when he scored the first try, it was clear Bayonne's defense would be tested extensively.
Adding to the points tally, Nelson Épée was another significant contributor, registering two tries himself and showcasing skillful positioning and quick reflexes. His ability to find space on the field left Bayonne on the back foot, struggling to deal with the speed of Toulouse's attackers.
For Bayonne, the performance was disappointing. After arriving with aspirations to challenge the league leaders, they fell victim to relentless pressure from Toulouse's offense, struggling under defensive challenges and maintaining limited control throughout the match. The lack of discipline, highlighted by four yellow cards and numerous penalties, compounded their frustrations.
Post-match analyses highlighted Bayonne's failure to connect effectively on offense. With star players unable to find rhythm and no tries scored, the defeat was harsh, leaving them to rethink strategies and efforts going forward. Coach Gregory Patat will certainly have much to address following this overwhelming loss.
Despite their obvious setbacks, both teams are at different stages in their campaigns. Toulouse will look to build momentum from this victory as they aim for the playoffs, with their performance indicating they are well-placed to make sizable impacts moving forward. Bayonne, conversely, will need to regroup quickly, with their recent successes now overshadowed by this defeat.
Next up for Toulouse will be their path forward, continuing to excel even under pressure. Meanwhile, Bayonne must confront the reality of their performance, aiming to regain footing within the tightly-contested Top 14.
With remarkable performances from the Toulousains, Saturday’s game remains one of the significant highlights of the season—both for the manner of victory and for the depth of talent displayed.