Logically cited for his behavior at the end of the match in Clermont, Toulon technician Pierre Mignon “self-punished” by taking his place in the stands until further notice.
Before some people start screaming when they read these words, it is important to place things in their exact context regarding Pierre Mignoni. The images of his anger, at the end of the match during the last-minute defeat in Clermont, left their mark and even shocked many. Rightly so, moreover, since the technician did not have to go out of his way like this, to the point of being held back by his own players.
For this excess, the former scrum half was the subject of a report and he is logically summoned to the disciplinary committee. Thereupon, he will have to answer for his actions and risks sanction. Until then, nothing to complain about and no one will defend that Mignoni behaved appropriately on the Michelin side. But here we are, well beyond his wrongs and his responsibilities, Mignoni has a virtue in this story: that of taking responsibility. Everyone will think what they want but his attitude in the following days is worth highlighting. And even to applaud.
Passion makes you do stupid things
Imagine that said Mignoni punished himself, by announcing that as of the match at Racing (it was Saturday), and until further notice, he would now take his place in the stands. He did it in Créteil and will do it again. Of course, this decision will not clear him of his errors and will not clear him of the sanction which necessarily awaits him in the disciplinary committee. But he assured him that he was absolutely not trying to send a message to the famous commission and there is every reason to believe it. Because, if there is one thing that has accompanied Pierre Mignoni since the start of his coaching career, it is his frankness and transparency. These which, sometimes carried by a hot character concerning him, can lead to boiling over. This is not acceptable but perhaps just understandable.
Managers and coaches have a privileged job, in the sense that places are expensive, but that does not prevent them from living under constant pressure. A tension, present 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. And when we are hot-blooded, we think we are the victim of an injustice (there is no question here of saying that this was the case or not for the RCT), passion makes you do stupid things. There you have it, whatever the reasons, Pierre Mignoni did something stupid in Clermont. No more, no less. And, if he was clearly not a model student that day and he will pay for that, the Varois at least had the intelligence and lucidity to quickly get closer to the top of the class. Because bullshit doesn’t get in the way of class, precisely.
