“We are an average team”, Jérémy Sinzelle’s scathing observation on the level of the RCT

Rugby Club Toulonnais returns to the Top 14 after two successes in the Champions Cup. But the last of these successes was narrow to say the least since Pierre Mignoni's men only won 30 to 29 against Glasgow. The RCT never managed to distance themselves from their Scottish opponent and, moreover, they could have won because the Warriors scorer, at one point in the match, missed a transformation that was however easy.

This small European success does not encourage Jérémy Sinzelle, experienced player of this Toulon team, to get carried away about the group level. Questioned by Midi Olympique after this Champions Cup match, the three-quarter even seemed a little bitter. A bitterness directed a little against arbitration, without there being any undue criticism.

We lacked a little control. We could have killed the match after our two tries at the end of half-time. We have to be cooler and show that we are a great team. At the moment, we are not yet a great team (…) It shows in the way we are refereed. I don't want to give away the stick… We also don't realize opportunities that we have to close (…) We are an average team and we are refereed in an average way. We have to be honest with each other.

Be careful with overconfidence

This is a very clear-cut speech, and not really positive about the level of Toulonnais. But Jérémy Sinzelle is undoubtedly speaking as a warning to his teammates, so that no one thinks they are too handsome. This is what emerges from an anecdote, still on this match against Glasgow, with Enzo Hervé who spoke to him about a potential bonus. But there was no bonus, particularly because the arbitration was not favorable. A real lesson in overconfidence…

When Enzo (Hervé) comes in, he talks to me about bonuses. I told him that we didn't have the referee with us. It didn't fail! At the end, it was a success of only one point. I felt it… You have to play with this kind of feeling. I knew we wouldn't be able to get the offensive bonus. The continuity of the arbitration was not with us. I felt the difference between them and us but the main thing is there: we won.

Not sure that such comments on arbitration were accepted in the Top 14, because Jérémy Sinzelle still seems to point out a difference in treatment. But we were in the Champions Cup.