Champions Cup – Pierre Mignoni (Toulon): “We’re going to Sale to win”

How are you approaching this last meeting in Sale?

We expect a different game from Harlequins. The Sharks have just had a rather complicated match in South Africa. They are a physical team, tough at home. She is a little less playful than the Harlequins team. They have a very aggressive defense. We can even say that it is a defensive rush. It's a completely different match to the one we had to face against Harlequins.

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Champions Cup – Faced with a cascade of injuries, Toulon faces a difficult choice before going to Sale

Is it exciting, as a coach, to prepare a completely different match from one week to another?

We were talking about that this morning with the members of my staff (smile). We find that there is a lot of change from one weekend to the next in this competition. This is really the case. It's very exciting on a strategic level. They took 40 points last weekend, but if we look at the match… There were attempts on the counter-attack, where they released balls! There was also fatigue associated with traveling. But we shouldn't stop only on this match. It's a team that won with the offensive bonus against Racing 92. They caused problems for Racing. Then there will be context. It's going to be 0, -5 or even -10 degrees (laughs) there, very cold weather, with humidity. It has nothing to do with the match at Mayol, under the sun. I'm expecting a completely different match.

We saw you work a lot on kicks and receptions…

We worked a match under difficult conditions (laughs)…

We are also battling with Leinster to finish, perhaps, among the best first

You will also give a chance to players who have had a little less playing time. Why?

The group was announced quickly during the week. There are no huge changes in the group. Yes, there will be guys who will join the team. They are hungry. They want to participate in this competition. All the guys want to do something big for the club and the team. If you're not motivated, with this opportunity (he pouts)… Over the week, I see players involved, as they have been for months.

Toulon will play on Sunday, late in the afternoon. Your competitors in the group, and even for the general ranking, will evolve the day before. Is this an advantage?

It's a good question, but for me it's a real advantage. On the other hand, this advantage does not provide a single guarantee. But yes, we will know the scenarios. You said it, we are battling with Glasgow, but not only that… We are also battling with Leinster to finish, perhaps, among the best first if we take all the groups into account. There are differences in point, number of points. There are a number of attempts. There are rules and everything counts. Everything will count until the end. We will have the scenario in our hands.

Exactly, you mention the difference in points. During your Champions Cup matches, Toulon often conceded tries at the end of the game. Do you regret it in view of such a tight ranking?

First of all, we can't say that the group has given up. Against Harlequins, it was a defensive error that cost us dearly on the points difference. It's a truth. We lost seven points. This is why I say it and I repeat it: everything counts, everything counts until the last minute. Did we give up? No. Did we make mistakes? Yes. It could be decisive. Everyone knows it. There will be a difference in points in the total of the four groups. You have to be careful.

Can these calculations disrupt the team a little?

No. We are going to Sale to win. You won't be able to finish first in the group, or among the best first overall, if you don't win. This is not possible. There are no questions to ask. There is a strategic direction to have, but if you don't win… We won't talk about anything anymore.