25 Top 14 matches this season, 25 starts. 1880 minutes spent on the meadow. Tom Staniforth, smiling from ear to ear in this final week, has become a major element of the CO this season.
“Incredible this passion for the club”
It does not go unnoticed with this most successful mullet cut. “I find it very sexy, my wife says no.” Everyone will have their own opinion. In any case on the ground, it is unanimous. “I love the fight. The Top 14 is very hard, very physical at this level. The guys are very tall too, when you see pillars of 140 kilos. Top 14 is harder than Super Rugby for me.” says the Australian giant.
Its installation in the Tarn? Easy. “The city here is very special. For the match in Nice, they traveled seven hours by bus. It’s incredible this passion for the club.”
Jacquet: “He is impressive”
Loïc Jacquet, 37, will hang up his crampons after this final on Friday. After 18 pro seasons, he is well placed to talk about the Australian second line: “As a player he’s a rock. Really. He’s impressive. When you look at his season, his playing time… He’s a key part of the team. He brought a lot of dynamism and energy. He’s having fun, he’s happy to be here. He’s having fun and it shows on the pitch. It’s great.”
Castres, with the best tackler in the championship in its ranks in the person of Staniforth, will try to raise a sixth Brennus on Friday.