One-on-one with Dobbo: Toulouse and the French lessons
The Stormers’ Director of Rugby, John Dobson, recently visited the South of France for some ‘personal development’ at French giants Stade Toulousain.
The Toulouse-based outfit gave Dobson and his fellow coaches full access to their build-up for the Round of 16 win over Sale Sharks.
To ‘learn’ from and see how Europe’s most successful team operates has immense value for the ambitious Cape Town team.
Apart from the Crusaders – with 14 Super Rugby titles, of which 10 were when South African teams were involved – no other side has won as many ‘international’ accolades as Stade Toulousain.
The French outfit has six stars – European/Champions Cup titles – and was runners-up twice. Now add 23 Top 14 (premier French competition), four Challenge Yves du Manoir titles and four French Cup wins.
That gives you an idea of how esteemed Les Rouge et Noir is.
The visit was set up by Stormers attack coach Dawie Snyman, who is good friends with Toulouse backs coach Clément Poitrenaud, who played for the Durban-based Sharks in 2017.
Ugo Mola, Stade Toulousain’s Director of Rugby, ensured the Stormers had “full access” to all training sessions and meetings to garner as much insight as possible.
Dobson said Stade Toulousain best represent the ‘game model’ of the Stormers, who rely on their fleet-footed and skilful backs to overcome power-hungry opponents.
“Arguably, them [Toulouse] and Leinster are the two best teams in the world,” Dobson told @rugby365com in a one-on-one sit-down interview.
Even with the South African game model that is moving away from the proverbial 10-man approach, to involve skilful outside backs and midfield game-breakers, the Stormers’ “transition game” is closer aligned with Toulouse.
“Toulouse has a huge pack of forwards and skilful backs,” Dobson said, adding: “However, like us, they also have a good connection with the city.”
“We have this ‘Make Cape Town Smile’ thin.”
(WATCH as @king365ed sits down with Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson to chat about his recent visit to French powerhouse Stade Toulousain and what insight he obtained….)
The design of Stade Toulousain’s crest refers to the initials of Thomas Aquinas, whose bones rest in the Church of the Jacobins, in Toulouse.
The interlaced letters came from a famous tiled floor of the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, where the relics were temporarily moved for almost two centuries after the French Revolution.
The historical colours, red and black, are rooted in the ceremonial costume of the capitouls of Toulouse.
With access to every meeting, section discussion and training session in the build-up to the Sale face-off, Dobson and his crew got some “fascinating” insights.
“We saw a lot of stuff we can improve on,” Dobson told @rugby365com, adding: “Some stuff we are doing okay at.
“What was powerful was their facilities and data analysis.
“Every assistant coach has an assistant and that guy works with the espoirs [hopeful players], the Under-23 team – which is great.
“The forwards coach, or line-out coach would have an assistant that coaches the espoirs – which ensures a seamless progression.
“They almost have an analyst for each department – someone analysing the espoirs games.
“That costs money, but it is an amazing progression.
“Their facilities are amazing. They have three drones up, golf carts with TV screens, a big screen where you can rewatch the maul.
“Their meeting room is like a cinema with cinema seats and various screens.
“Just the sheer resources was really impressive.”
Even team selections are more ‘collaborative’ than in South Africa, where the coach is still the dominant voice.
The game model is the one area where Dobson feels the Stormers ‘stack up well’ with the French outfit.
“They have more world-class players than we have, but the way we train – the high transitions, the chaos and the demands GPS-wise, seem to be similar.
“Where they do have an edge on us were their analysis and how they present [information] to players.
“I was expecting it, being a French team, to be more traditional.
“However, it was progressive and welcoming.
“With some stuff, we need to get better and with some stuff, we are on the right track.
“It was a good expedition.”
@king365ed
@rugby365com
* Don’t miss Part Two of the exclusive one-on-one with Dobson, where he explains some of the learnings he will apply in the final four weeks of the URC season!
Go behind the scenes of both camps during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. Binge watch exclusively on RugbyPass TV now
