Best tackler of the match and valuable in the lineup, flanker Killian Tixeront was one of the most prominent Clermont players on Saturday evening at the Aviva Stadium. Obviously disappointed at not having been rewarded on an accounting level and ever more ambitious, he does not want to be satisfied with an encouraging defeat.
Losing by eight points at the Aviva Stadium against Leinster, is that encouraging for the rest of the season?
It's encouraging, but we're not going to be satisfied with that. It remains a lost match with zero points. Certainly, we are happy with the state of mind, with our performance. But it's like in the Top 14: you have to be able to take points everywhere, on all terrains. And even in a hostile environment. We are going to go to La Rochelle next weekend. We know we will be expected. And the idea is to bring home as many points as possible.
56% success only for the Leinster sideline, how did you go about disrupting one of the best alignments in Europe?
We're going to throw some flowers at each other. I think we worked well ahead of this meeting with Rob (Simmons) who was returning and who brought a lot of experience. We did simple things but 100%. We were able to thwart them in this sector. It's rather positive. But above all I remember the general state of mind of the team. Unfortunately, it's the little details that will make us a great team or not. Because unfortunately, we come out of this match with zero points. That's what's frustrating.
Wasn't Alex Newsome's forward in front of the goal the turning point of the match?
It's still a little early (24e). There was still time left.
Except that you take an 80 meter counter, followed by a quickly played penalty and a try from Jordie Barret…
It's an action that makes your head hurt a little. Especially when we see that the meeting ultimately comes to nothing. This is like the scenario of the meeting. All it took was a few details. This is also true for me…
Precisely since you are talking about this action at the end of the match where you could perhaps have scored. Did you lack confidence in your speed to go to the end?
I think I lacked a bit of juice, a bit of confidence, a bit of everything. I don't know if I made the right choice, but…
What are your real ambitions in this Champions Cup?
Above all, we approach the Champions Cup as a competition that we want to play. We know the ethics of the club. ASM is keen to play these matches. Competing against Leinster in their stadium is the kind of match that will make us grow.
