On the sidelines of Stade Toulousain’s victory against Racing (48-24), Romain Ntamack had very strong words to motivate his partners.
The emotion was palpable in Ernest-Wallon. For Pita Ahki’s final match under the Haut-Garonne colors and Antoine Dupont’s big return to competition, almost nine months after his serious knee injury,
Stade Toulousain dominated Racing 92 (48-24), this Saturday, on the occasion of the 11th day of Top 14.
Established at the opening after a generally disappointing autumn tour with the XV of France, Romain Ntamack was named captain of the Rouge et Noir for the first time in his career. A role that he took to heart, as shown in his speech before the match during which he paid a superb tribute to Pita Ahki to motivate his teammates.
“ We end the chapter with Pita. Every action we do, every duel, is for him. A pass, a ruck, a run, we do everything for him. Today, we play for him, so that he comes out like the great he is. Afterwards we drink a beer but first a fucking match », said the international tricolor in a sequence captured by the broadcaster Canal+.
“We will have had the best New Zealand center that the All Blacks will not have had”
After the meeting, it was Ugo Mola’s turn to speak on the microphone. In front of his entire group, the Toulouse coach paid a moving tribute to his 33-year-old center, who will return home to New Zealand.
“ When someone manages to win seven titles… I believe we will have had the best New Zealand center that the All Blacks will not have had, Mola said. And I think that honestly, in life, you rarely have the opportunity to meet authentic and simple people. Like Pita and his family, we had the chance with the staff to train a legend of the club. And I believe that he is part of the tradition of Jauzion, Fritz, Bonneval and others… In any case, we have a great center who is leaving us. I will not offend him by handing him the microphone. Sometimes you don’t need to say much more than thank you. »
