Nine days after their disappointment in the Challenge Cup final, the Varois must recover. They are condemned to win in Nanterre to qualify for the final phase. A huge shock in perspective, the Ile-de-France residents being in the same obligation: to win or to be on vacation…
Defeat is bad. Last Friday in Marseille, the Toulonnais did not exist against Lyon in the final of the Challenge Cup. A disappointment 32 to 10. And ten days to get your head straight. “Physically, it’s fine given our non-match, squeals scrum-half Baptiste Serin, questioned by Var matin. It’s more mentally than it’s hard. We’ve had a bad game over the last four months, and this is it…»
No time to complain though. The Varois – who lost Gabin Villière, injured in the ankle in the final – again have a double or nothing match. On the lawn of Racing 92 this Sunday evening the deal is simple: a feat, a victory and they will see the final phase, they who were penultimate in early January, and will send the Racingmen on early vacation. A defeat and it will be a white season. No title, no top 6 synonymous with play-offs (or even more) and, certainly, no Champions Cup, promised to the first eight…
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At least, it’s clear. No calculation. Not a look at the other meetings of this 26e and last day of the regular season. The Toulonnais, who before this disillusion had won 10 of their 11 league games (the only defeat, a match without Challenge Cup stakes, etc.), have their destiny in their hands. So sudden stop or simple failure? The Var players admit it. They had not measured how much this chase, without room for error, exhausted them mentally and physically. The backlash could be terrible if they don’t shake off at Paris La Défense Arena.
Don’t let go now, after four months of a frantic and intense sprint
«You have to forget this gameinsists the young center Mathieu Smaïli. Get rid of it because that’s another competition. We always have something to play for, so we will remobilize.» Do not ruminate. Don’t give up now, after four months of frantic sprinting and intense effort. “We had three days off which allowed us to calmly digest this defeat and not ignore the feelings we might have had. Not thinking about it, it’s complicated because it always comes back, told the rear Aymeric Luc at a press conference. So don’t hesitate to talk about it, to say things and thus, then, project yourself on the match after…»
A real shock since the Ile-de-France residents will play their skin too. It will hit hard in an Arena which will beat its attendance record for the season with more than 20,000 spectators announced. AT kick-off, there will be no more time to think. To regret this title soaring for the fourth time (the RCT has failed four times in as many Challenge Cup finals). On the contrary, it will be necessary to draw from this failure the rage to redeem oneself, to win again. To extend the season by at least one additional week. To maintain the dream of a coronation on June 24, unthinkable three months ago.
“It’s worrying when you see our performance in the final. But I know what we are capable of doing…”
Franck Azéma, RCT manager
«We were caught up in the commitment and the intensity from the start (against Lyon, editor’s note), it is therefore on this that it is necessary to light up, warns manager Franck Azéma. We’ll see if we can do it…He doesn’t doubt it any more than that. “This group has real leadership and they are able to support themselves. It’s good to see that, when it’s complicated, Charles (Ollivon) or Baptist (Cool) pass in front to re-stimulate the group.“And to add, optimistically:”It’s worrying when you see our performance in the final. But I know what we are capable of doing.» Erase regrets by making up for it without delay.