Toulouse’s number 8 Anthony Jelonch praised the way his “team didn’t give up” and came through extra-time to beat Union Bordeaux-Begles (UBB) 39-33 in the Top 14 Final on Saturday.
Jelonch A. (30'), Willis J. (39', 45')
Tries
Penaud D. (35'), Jalibert M. (42'), Petti G. (69')
Ramos T. (31', 40', 46')
Conversions
Lucu M. (35', 43', 70')
Ramos T. (4', 20', 55', 63', 96', 100')
Penalties
Lucu M. (2', 8', 26', 80')
Toulouse’s number 8 Anthony Jelonch praised the way his “team didn’t give up” and came through extra-time to beat Union Bordeaux-Begles (UBB) 39-33 in the Top 14 Final on Saturday.
Jelonch scored the match's first try but was on the bench when Maxime Lucu kicked a last-minute penalty to draw Bordeaux-Begles level at 33-33.
However, fullback Thomas Ramos continued his metronomic form from the kicking tee and scored two penalties for the only points of extra time to secure victory.
“It was a dream,” Jelonch told Canal+. “They came back on the last play. We were all dead, but the team didn't give up and we won by six points in the end.
“We fought for it with our guts. We fought for it with everything we had left. After the season we've had, everyone was promising us hell tonight. Honestly, I'm proud of the guys. We played a crazy game, the best of the year, in the final.
FIGHTING HARD
“I was looking forward to playing in a final with Stade Toulousain and it was extraordinary. It's a dream tonight.”
This year Toulouse were chasing a 24th title, compared to Bordeaux-Begles’ pursuit of a first.
Toulouse and Bordeaux-Begles have developed a big rivalry in recent years. In last year’s final Toulouse showed no mercy to win 59-3, but in this year’s Top 14 UBB won both matches.
Bordeaux-Begles also beat Toulouse in the Investec Champions Cup semifinals to end their reign as European champions. They then succeeded them by defeating Northampton Saints in the final.
This year’s final was a far closer, hugely intense clash. Jelonch, and Jack Willis, twice, scored Toulouse’s tries, while Damein Penaud, Matthieu Jalibert, and Guido Petti replied for UBB.
The difference came with the boot, where Ramos’ six kicks trumped Lucu’s four.
EUROPEAN V FRENCH CHAMPIONS
“The match was quite incredible, against a confident team,” Ramos said. “Perhaps being champions today is more significant than being champions on other occasions.
“We're proud to have beaten this team because it's a title that, for us, comes from a very, very long way back.”
While UBB will be frustrated not to have added the Top 14 title to their Champions Cup, this season has confirmed them as a team that is part of Europe’s elite.
For neutrals we can sit back and watch two new rivals pushing each other to new heights of excellence.
“A match against Toulouse is never over,” Lucu told Canal+. “Playing matches like that is a treat, it's a pleasure. The frustration is enormous.
“They had the frustration of the European Cup. We felt that and they came to get the French championship title. We tried. We gave it our all. Today, we fell with weapons in hand, unlike last year.”
