By brilliantly dominating the Saracens on Saturday evening (25-16), the Toulonnais offered themselves immense joy. That of playing in a new European final, two years after their last attempt, failed against Bristol in Aix-en-Provence (32-19), and seven years after the last of their three continental crowns (2013, 2014, 2015). But Franck Azéma’s players also bottled up their end of the season.
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Of course, they did not think for a second about this question. The Varois did not want to miss a final in Marseille, only 70 kilometers away, on May 27.
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Don’t focus on Europe
But before this prestigious meeting at the Vélodrome against Lyon, the RCT will have to pursue its insane challenge: qualifying for the final phase of the Top 14. Currently 8th, Toulon has returned, thanks to an impressive series of successes, to only 3 points from the top 6. To hope to snatch a dam, he must win against Pau on Saturday, then at Racing on the last day.
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How will the club pursue its two objectives simultaneously? “We will try not to ask questionssummarizes Franck Azéma, as we have done so far. » This philosophy has been quite successful at the RCT recently. “For several weeks, everyone has been giving more, assuming their responsibilities, and pulling the group up”appreciates Captain Charles Ollivon.
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“We’ve been playing finals every weekend for three months. We know that if we lose, it’s over, we get out”
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“When you see that the guys come out to do cardio after the game (against the Saracens)it proves that there is a desire to continue the adventureabounds Azéma. We will need to bring in fresh blood too, but we will have the same determination to prepare for the match against Pau. »
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Since knowing that he no longer has the right to make mistakes in the Top 14, the RCT has been intractable, as if he no longer knew how to lose (11 successes in the last 14 matches, all competitions combined). ” We’ve been playing finals every weekend for three monthss’amuse Ollivon. We know that if we lose, it’s over, we get out. Now we are going to prepare for Pau by trying not to have the final in mind, otherwise we will be wrong. » History not to spoil the promises of spring, unimaginable this winter.
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