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Ce sera donc à Ernest-Wallon que l'USO disputera le premier match de son histoire face au Stade Toulousain (16h15)
Toulouse scrum-half Jean Marc Doussain is determined to put their nightmare start to the Champions Cup behind them with a victory over Oyonnax on Saturday.
The four-time European champions came unstuck in the opening 40 minutes of their campaign, conceding 27 unanswered points to Saracens at Allianz Park. The margin proved to be too much of a mountain to climb, but the French side did score mini triumph, as they prevented Sarries from claiming the all-important bonus-point.
Ugo Mola’s side have the chance to redeem themselves with a Pool One clash against Top14 rivals Oyonnax at Stade Ernest Wallon, and Doussain is determined to bounce back from their first-round loss.
He said: “We mostly discussed how and why our game at Saracens was not successful. This loss will bring us back down to earth. Until then, everything went well, we had a good start to the season, it was a bad game. We were not up to par. We had no weapons to fight. But now it's done. This group is rebuilding, you have to bounce back.
“We already had a French club in our group last season (Montpellier). It's a bit special because it often confronts in the league. It knows the qualities of Oyonnax although the club having some problems with his current coaching change. But it's really not our concern. It will make a serious game to beat them.”
Oyonnax were made to wait for their much-anticipated Champions Cup debut after the horrific events in Paris last Friday. They will be hoping a switch in competitions can spark a change in form, with the side from the Rhone-Alps struggling in the Top14. They sit 13th after eight matches, with just two wins to their name.
Oyonnax may be Champions Cup new-comers, but they have brought in a wealth of European experience over the summer. Outside-half Nicky Robinson reached a semi-final with the Cardiff Blues back in 2009. All Blacks scrum-half Piri Weepu was another summer addition, and more Champions Cup experience has come-in in the forms of George Robson, Fabrice Metz and Jeremie Maurouard.
Match Facts
- Oyonnax make their Champions Cup debut, becoming the 20th French team to participate in the competition.
- Toulouse have won nine and drawn one of their 11 matches against fellow French sides but this will be their first match in the Champions Cup against tournament debutants Oyonnax.
- Toulouse will be looking to avoid consecutive defeats on home soil for the first time in the Champions Cup; thus far they’ve played 65 matches at home without consecutive losses.
- Toulouse have lost their last three in the competition, but have never suffered four consecutive defeats in the Champions Cup.
Deux essais d'Oyonnax en fin de match ont fait trembler Ernest-Wallon mais c'est bien le Stade Toulousain qui empoche les quatre points de la victoire (24-18). Celui de bonus défensif ramené par l'USO est amplement mérité. - 21/11/2015 17:20
Toulouse reignited their quest for Champions Cup glory with a hard-fought 24-18 win over Oyonnax at Stade Ernest Wallon.
Whenever the four-time champions thought they had put breathing distance between them, the plucky visitors fought-back. Timoci Matanavou was first to go over after a tight first-half before Maxime Medard crossed. But Oyonnax fought-back through Vincent Martin, before Gael Ficou looked to have won it, but there was still time for Fabien Cibray to make for a nervy final few minutes.
It was a stop-start game from the off as both sides attempted to ignite their offloading games, with no avail. Underdogs Oyonnax sent an early statement to their Top14 rivals after eight minutes by muscling their way to a scrum-penalty, which Regis Lespinas converted. The Oyonnax outside-half made it 6-0 moments later, before Toulouse finally wrestled their way into Oyonnax territory to land a penalty of their own through Luke McAlister.
Ugo Mola’s side thought they had the break-through 10 minutes before half-time when Talalelei Gray crashed over in the corner. Some smart offloading from Toulouse had Oyonnax in trouble before the ball was worked to the blindside flanker, but the try was ruled out after a knock-on in the build-up.
But the breakthrough came just after the second-half restart. Toulouse kicked a penalty to the corner and shunted their way towards the line. Their drive was stopped illegally before the ball was worked out to flying wing Timoci Matanavou, who side-stepped his way over the line. McAlister converted to put Toulouse 10-6 ahead.
And the hosts finally found some breathing space after 60 minutes. Picamoles went on the charge but was stopped just short. The ball was then flung out to the backs who moved it across the pitch and into the hands of Medard, who danced inside to score. McAlister converted to take their lead to 17-6.
But Oyonnax were back in it with 10 minutes remaining through Martin. Silver Tian sparked a counter attack and streaked through the defensive line before feeding his backline colleague, who crashed over at the corner. Ficou then found some space and sliced through from 50 metres to score a sensational try, but that was not the end of this one. Cibray capitalised on some loose Toulouse offloading and raced home from 50 metres. But it was just too late and Toulouse saw out the final few minutes.
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