'That's unacceptable': Franco Smith's men still haunting Top 14's best
SPOTLIGHT: Toulouse travel to Lyon in the French Top 14 on Saturday a week on from suffering a second-half collapse at Glasgow leaving their hopes of a favourable knock-out stage run in the Champions Cup in tatters.
The record six-time Champions Cup winners led 21-0 at half-time before losing 21-28 to Franco Smith’s men in Scotland and now face a daunting task of claiming a sought-after home semifinal, if they reach the last four.
They sit in third place in Pool One, halfway through the group stage, with the top four reaching the last 16, before heading to Saracens and hosting Sale in January.
“After the first Glasgow try, we didn’t react well,” England flank Jack Willis told newspaper La Depeche du Midi.
“We dropped our heads. That’s unacceptable.
“We have to bounce back quickly, because we don’t have time in the Champions Cup.
“We can’t lose another match if we want to go far in the competition,” he added.
Willis joined Toulouse in 2022 after Wasps filed for administration but is unable to add to his 15 England caps as he plays his club rugby abroad.
The 29-year-old has played more than 70 games for the record 24-time French champions, lifting the domestic title three times before being named Top 14 Player of the Year in September.
During his three-year spell at Stade Ernest Wallon he has been trusted with the captain’s armband despite competition from the likes of French superstar Antoine Dupont as well as Les Bleus mainstays in fullback Thomas Ramos, hooker Julien Marchand and flank Anthony Jelonch.
“Working in a squad with Julien, Thomas, Antoine and Anthony is great,” he said.
“We’re a squad that speaks well, that works hard on the field and I’m very proud to sometimes be captain of the club,” he added.
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Festive period
This weekend’s trip to the foothills of the Alps comes days after Toulouse were handed a two-point penalty and a fine for a salary cap breach, meaning they drop below Pau to second in the table.
Heading to the Matmut Stadium will be followed by hosting La Rochelle and going to Perpignan in a busy festive period before the return of the Champions Cup.
“Of course, in the best of worlds we would love to be off for Christmas but I also want to play,” Willis said with Toulouse eyeing a first win at Lyon since 2017.
“Even more so after the match against Glasgow.
“I want to be back on the field.
“I think the squad wants that too,” he added.
Elsewhere, Stade Francais host Racing 92 in the Parisian derby days after Australia prop Taniela Tupou arrived at the visitors having signed a deal until 2028.
The ‘Tongan Thor’ is unlikely to feature at Stade Jean-Bouin having not played since November 22, for the Wallabies.
“He’s integrated well,” Racing’s France lock Romain Taofifenua told reporters on Wednesday.
“He trained for the first time this week, we’ll be able to count on him soon,” he added.
