Top 14: “Have the right attitude and good behavior”, insists Labit before Stade Français-Toulouse

Third in the championship with 23 points, Stade Français will host Stade Toulousain on Sunday, which occupies sixth place with also 23 points, during the 9th day of the Top 14. “When we host Stade Toulousain, it's always special. We need to find victory again, insists Parisian manager Laurent Labit. We suffered a defeat here, at Jean-Bouin, in the derby. Afterwards, a difficult defeat in Pau, despite the intentions and the content which were interesting. We were unable to be realistic and score. The score is a little heavy for us at the end. We find our audience and we want to redeem ourselves and show our true level.

The week at Stade Français was marked by an extra-sporting affair, following last weekend's defeat in Pau. Several players and members of the Parisian club's management were sanctioned by the Parisian club for leaving without authorization after the defeat at Pau (30-6) on Saturday, the club announced Thursday confirming information from the newspaper L'Équipe. Stade Français also confirmed in a press release “the altercation between one of its players and a member of the Pau staff”, during this outing in the town of Béarn. According to the regional daily La République des Pyrénées and the France Bleu website, the culprit would be the Samoan third row Giovanni Habel-Kuffner, who played seven seasons at... Pau.

“What interests us today is the present. And the present is our Sunday evening match for the 140th anniversary of the club. It's important to us. We have a match to regain victory for our collective, continues Laurent Labit. It's a match that comes a week before we start our European campaign. It's the same for Toulouse. We knew that Toulouse would have its best weapons for this match one week before starting the European Cup. This is a real challenge for us. The group can be vengeful, determined. In any case, the group and the club will have to be there on Sunday evening.

And the former assistant to Fabien Galthié in the staff of the XV of France added: “We must always remember history. When we forget history, it becomes dangerous. Of course we talked about it, we're going to talk about it again. There are things that have been done at this club, and that is what the players and staff must be inspired by. Although you shouldn't live in the past, it's important. It is a club which has won a lot and which must continue to win, even if we know that the competition is much more difficult and tougher. But that's what matters to us today. Have the right attitude, the right behavior. Be in this club for the right reasons. It’s having a competitive spirit.”