So much effort for nothing in the end.
So much energy expended to see the final stages in front of the TV.
The Rugby Club Toulonnais saw its season end abruptly on Sunday, after its defeat at Paris La Défense Arena against Racing 92 (21-16).
“We feel disappointment because we finish at five points,
could only entrust Franck Azéma, the Var manager.
It's a lot of frustration, so much effort, generosity throughout the season to die like that..."
To discover
Schedule and Top 14 results
Ranking Top 14
The RCT started from afar.
From far away.
At the start of the year, he was bottom of the class, after disappointing results which had precipitated the departure of Patrice Collazo.
His successor - Franck Azéma therefore - took some time to get his bearings and relaunch the red-and-black machine.
Before chaining the good results and believing in an impossible "rise" in the standings.
"It stops dead, when we had hope, we knew that we were going to play our qualification on this last day, unfortunately the story is not beautiful until the end",
regrets the rear Aymeric Luc.
Read alsoTop 14: “Sometimes Racing sees itself as too good,” warns Imhoff
During this last day of the Top 14, the Varois however stood up to the Racingmen for a long time.
Nothing to do with their defeat in the Challenge Cup final against Lyon last week.
Stronger in defense, more conquering in the confrontation zones, they have long muzzled the Sky and White and their formidable three-quarter line.
Before cracking back from the locker room.
“I am proud of the investment of the guys, during these last months,
nevertheless salutes Franck Azéma.
I see the expenditure of energy that they still put in this
(Sunday)
evening, they gave everything, until the last minute.
They spent time with each other, trained seriously but they weren't able to achieve a feat here, too late to come back...
And Aymeric Luc to continue, also annoyed:
"After half-time, Racing continued to put us under pressure, then we were imprecise, especially on our touches, we never managed to take them up to speed, to overflow them.
Behind that, the fact of having put us under pressure made us crack at the end with this test a little cap.
Juan Imhoff, eternal fox of in-goals at 34, showered the hopes of the Toulonnais, then reduced to 14 after the yellow card of Charles Ollivon, who did not find the strength to come back at the end of the match.
“We also lose qualification for the Champions Cup.
It's a double jeopardy..."
Franck Azema
The Varois – who have not participated in the final stages since 2018 at the time of Fabien Galthié – are therefore once again on vacation before their time.
At the time of the balance sheet, the observation is bitter.
The RCT finished seventh, at the foot of the top 6, and will not participate in the next Champions Cup.
“We lose qualification for the Champions Cup, so we lose everything this
(Sunday)
evening
.
There was too much delay to come back, so it's the double penalty, it's even more frustrating
, ”says Franck Azéma who will form a shock duo next season with Pierre Mignoni, back home after seven successful seasons. In Lyon.
Without this ignition delay, RC Toulon would have largely had its place at the final banquet of the Top 14. A disillusion to digest, before switching back to a new exercise.
That of the return to the foreground?
Aymeric Luc wants to be positive:
“What we have done in this year 2022 is quite strong, humanly and rugby-wise, so we have to capitalize on it for next season.
Part of the workforce will change but the state of mind will remain.
Remember beautiful things.
