It’s a tricolor final that makes your mouth water. This Friday evening (9 p.m.) at the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille, Toulon, the team in form of the Top 14, which has lost only one of its last ten matches in all competitions, comes as a neighbor to challenge Lyon for the coronation in the European Challenge, the “small” European Cup, the day before the Champions Cup final between La Rochelle and Leinster.
“We don’t ask ourselves any questions, we will stick to what we know how to do, underlines Franck Azéma, the manager of the Varois. We are carefree but also have convictions, commitment… We keep the same passion and the same casualness because we have confidence in what we produce. We’re not going to change anything. »
The RCT, which will play its place in the final phase of the Top 14, a week later against Racing 92 at Paris La Défense Arena, does not intend to save itself. This trophy is indeed not trivial for Toulon, three times winner of the Champions Cup (2013, 2014, 2015), which can thus become the first French club to win the two continental competitions alongside the English of Bath, Wasps and Northampton or the Irish from Leinster. “There is a lot of excitement, we have to keep the enthusiasm of the young people, the assurance of the old ones, continues the captain of the Red and Black Charles Ollivon. This is what makes us up, what makes our wardrobe. »
“Winning a title validates a lot of work”
Opposite, Lyon, in difficulty in the race to qualify for the final phase of the championship with one day remaining, would find in this success a first consolation – and the first European trophy in its history – during a rather disappointing season. . “The most important thing is the mind, it’s discipline. A final is 50-50. There is no favorite, warns Pierre Mignoni, the Lyon manager who will return to Toulon next season. If I had won all the finals where I was favourite, I would have more titles…”
Former international scrum half (28 caps between 1997 and 2007), approached for a time to train the XV of France alongside Fabien Galthié, Mignoni won the European Challenge (2007) with Clermont as a player, the European Cup (2013 , 2014, 2015) and the Top 14 (2014) as an assistant coach in Toulon. But he also lost several Top 14 finals (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013) and one European Challenge (2007).
“Winning a title validates a lot of work,” he insists. It is important in building a club. It would be great for the future, it would allow players to realize their potential. You have to be able to do incredible things. For the Lyon region too, it is important. We would be the first team to win a title. »
The teams
Lyon : T. Arnold – Tuisova, Barassi, Ngatai, Niniashvili – (o) Berdeu, (m) Couilloud – Sobeloa, Taufua (cap.), Cretin – R. Taofifenua, Kpoku – Bamba, G. Marchand, S. Taofifuena. Entr. : Cute.
Toulon : Luc – Kolbe, Hériteau, Paia’aua, Villière – (o) Carbonel, (m) Serin – Ollivon (cap.), Parisse, Du Preez – Alainu’uese, Etzebeth – Gigashvili, Tolofua, Gros. Entr. : Azema.