In a game which kept all its promises, Pierre Mignoni’s protégés delivered a benchmark match at the best of times. Qualified, Toulon erased its last bad campaign and is dreaming big.
There was, around Mayol, Sunday afternoonthe smell of big moments and big matches. Nearly a thousand of them came to the Toulon harbor, the Quins supporters competed in the bars adjoining the RCT den, and to tell the truth, it took more than one of them back, ten years in time. Could this past, so heavy to bear for years, now be written in the present? We’re not there yet, but Toulon, thanks to an improved victory against Harlequins, will relive the tough matches of spring. Faced with a team with their backs to the wall, the partners of a brilliant Serin in any case delivered a full performance, except for a quarter of an hour of hesitation after returning from the locker room, against one of the last semi-finalists of the competition . “We are happy, attacked Andrea Masi. Even more so after what happened last year. We had lost four times, and we wanted to show a different image. This cut had hurt everyone. This time, we gave joy to the supporters.”
As for several weeks, and its recent rise in power, the entity struck by thrush was able to count on a sovereign and dominating pack of forwards behind a rough David Ribbans, a precious Esteban Abadie, and a tireless Lewis Ludlam. Toulon, despite possession and occupation in favor of Harlequins in the first act, took advantage of every opportunity as if its life depended on it. “It was a very successful first period, analyzed Abadie. The score was large (26-0 at the break, and offensive bonus in the pocket, Editor’s note). We were opportunistic. That’s what we try to do every weekend. Above all, we put on volume and resisted this rhythm. It is often said that French teams are more physical, and that the English run and play ball more. We wanted to prove that we also knew how to play.”
More than 40 minutes of effective gameplay
Far from the humidity of Durban and the coolness of Glasgow, Toulon and its climate offered conditions conducive to moving the ball efficiently. Was it Toulon’s plan to take on Harlequins at their own game? “However, we said to ourselves during the week that we wanted to play a Top 14 match, laughed Garbisi. We wanted to bring them there. In the end, we didn’t do it at all! But, we proved that this group was capable of playing this form of play. We know how to play both types of rugby.” With 192 passes made, and 12 post-contact passes completed, Toulon was on par with the Quins (190 passes, 11 offloads), one of the references on the continent. “We proved that the team was capable of withstanding sequences lasting more than two minutes, welcomed Masi. However, we are not used to playing so many sequences. The match had approximately 42 minutes of effective play. I don’t know how many years it’s been since we played a match like this. I don’t think we ever exceeded 40 minutes. Now, we know that we are capable of playing matches of this intensity and this speed.”
A good omen, then, before going to Sale, despite tired bodies and Kyle Sinckler in the infirmary following a probable forearm fracture? “All I know is that we will end up in first place, insisted the Italian. We want to play to win. This team is hungry. The players are hungry, like the staff. We’re hungry, and we want to finish as high as possible.” For this, the Varois will have the cards in hand: a success will guarantee the leadership position. Enough to receive a round of 16 and a possible quarter-final at home. Mayol may not have finished having great afternoons.
