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'It's a child's dream come true... 15 years ago I watched Toulouse play finals on TV and today it is us'

Toulouse's players celebrate their Top 14 final win over Clermont on Saturday night (Photo by Dominique Faget/AFP/Getty Images)

Thomas Ramos has described Toulouse’s Top 14 triumph as a dream come through. Not since 2012 had the French giants ruled in their own domestic competition, but that gap was bridged on Saturday night when they defeated Clermont 24-18 in the decider at Stade de France.  

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For Ramos, the 23-year-old who made his France debut this season, the victory was the realisation of a desire sparked in him when he was much younger. 

“It’s a child’s dream come true. Fifteen years ago, I watched on TV when Toulouse played the finals and today it is us. We look forward to Sunday in Place du Capitole – we must enjoy these moments and savour them because we do not know if one day we will come back here. 

“At the beginning of the season, yes, we thought we could go to the end. We have a full season, with records right and left. It’s deserved for us this year. 

“It is not disrespectful to Clermont, who played a big match and had a big season with a European title. But in our gym, the (honours) list of the club is displayed. You see it and we say ‘wow’… when we go back in July, we will see the 20th title and say that it is us. It is huge. I hope it will continue.”

Clermont out-out-half Camille Lopez admitted his team had no complaints after losing their fifth Top 14 final in seven appearances since 2007.

“It’s deserved because they did a great game,” said Lopez in the aftermath of the crushing defeat. “But we were six points (behind) at the end. You’re not far but you have too many inaccuracies in your game. 

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“We create opportunities, but we do not finish. We lacked efficiency and precision, especially to get out of our half… Toulouse were more precise and disciplined than us.”

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AM 7 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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