Toulouse Ends 5 game winning streak...but Agen comes back to beat Bayonne

After having lost 7 in a row, it wasn't looking good for our rugby club in little Agen. However, we won our last 3 in the Top 14 and 3 of 4 in the Amlin Cup matches. With a 5 game winning streak ahead of our Toulouse match, even though they are #1 in the Top 14, we were feeling quite confident in our chances.  In the heart of winter in France, it was ironically a great night for rugby and there was a maxed out stadium to view as well. All this set up a great opportunity to take down the Giant Toulouse.

However, it took no more than 6 minutes to get their first 3 points on the board and it was all Toulouse in the first 20 minutes, tallying 16 points. It looked all but done, until we finally got on the board with a 3-pointer. The scoring continued, but slowed for Toulouse in the first half, ending at 25-3.

Over the last 7 or 8 games, the difference in our losing streak and winning streak has been our defense. We are realigning better/faster, tackling harder (and more often), and as a result, teams are drastically scoring less. Against Toulouse, we came out hard, and continued this aggressive play. Unfortunately there were lapses, which, against the best team, led to points. However, our defense quickly came back in the second half and we finished the way we wish we could have started, winning the second stanza 5-0. The final score was 25-8.

Against Bayonne, we learned from our mistakes. It was defense, defense, defense. They couldn't do anything offensively, and we were just waiting for the right time to strike during the match. To start the game we controlled possession and played advancing rugby, but just couldn't finish off the try at the end. It did lead to a 9-0 first half lead however, which was suitable considering how our defense was playing. The only difference in the second half was that we had to play a lot more defense, but it never faltered. They may have kept the ball longer, but big hit after big hit eventually led to a turnover.

After having missed most of the last 7 matches, I finally found myself on the bench, and eventually on the field. With my first touch of the ball, I stepped through the defensive line after a nice pass from a teammate, and then I set up another player for a try. Personally, it was nice to get back on the field, but even better, for the team I provided a big impact coming off the bench. That try sealed it with 8 minutes to go and the game ended at 21-3.

Next week we play at Biarritz, where Takudza Ngwenya, the USA National Team winger makes his home.