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Fickou's defence in the face of this step, sums up Toulouse's early season problems. David Jones
Stood Up

Toulouse's Gaël Fickou was turned completely inside out by a Brive winger last weekend

Fickou’s head was spinning so much during this step, he was probably treated for concussion after.

IT HAS NOT been a good two weeks for Guy Noves and Toulouse. The aristocrats of European rugby (a prerequisite when describing them) started the season with two wins from two, with a flaky win over Oyonnax being followed by a spanking of Castres that looked like it would kickstart their season.

Since, it has all been a disaster as they followed up a 37-25 loss to bottom-feeders La Rochelle with a 26-19 defeat to Brive. Their team is as star-studded as it ever was and they have the biggest budget in the league but that hasn’t stopped players like Gaël Fickou, who looked like a Rolls Royce of a centre two years ago, being bamboozled by wingers from the lower half of the table.

Ruddy Darter / YouTube

Benito Masilevu is a talented winger but there is no way he should be knifing past Yoann Huget and Gaël Fickou so easily. Toulouse host Clermont this weekend, and another loss will put them in an early fight to even make the playoffs this season.

But to talk more about the clip in question; there is something special about seeing a winger completely stand up his opposite number.

My personal favourite sidestep tries are these two from Jason Robinson, for the Lions in 2001, and Cedric Heymans, against the All Blacks in 2009.

hemanrugger / YouTube

Grayditch / YouTube

George North was an unstoppable monster last weekend

Henshaw set to return for Connacht, but Heenan suffers shoulder injury

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