A shock in Mayol to close the 3rd day of the Top 14. A “Classic” of the championship between Toulon and Clermont, whose recent history has often been lively.
Except that the two teams have lost their luster lately and no longer regularly play the leading roles.
With each a victory and a defeat on the clock, the two teams are expected at the turn.
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Fixtures and Top 14 results
Ranking Top 14
But, between the lines of this shock at the top, the question of the departure of Franck Azéma, a year ago, still animates the debates.
The departure on the Rade last fall of the former technician at the head of ASM (with whom he raised the shield of Brennus in 2017) is still not digested.
Indeed, the Auvergne club is still asking him before the industrial tribunal for 800,000 euros for the "damage suffered".
When he left Auvergne, Azéma had not agreed to sign the termination imposed by Clermont who, in the process, had notified a unilateral termination of CDD citing serious misconduct.
The case will be tried in the year 2023.
Read alsoTop 14: Bastareaud officially signs in Toulon
At the time, Franck Azéma – who was linked with Clermont until June 2023 – explained in the columns of
L'Équipe
:
“I showed up when training resumed in July with an usher.
I was prevented from entering.
It's not something that gives pleasure, but I had to cover myself.
And that's where I don't understand the attitude of the president and Mr. Loignon
(administrative director)
: it has become a matter of ego!
I think ASM is bigger than that.”
This reunion with Clermont will also have the air of revenge for Azéma since the RCT lost this summer in a friendly match against the Jaunards (21-40).
“
The involvement that we have put so far, it is good,
had then launched to his players Franck Azéma.
Now what we want to go for is a notch higher and fix all the little things.
So no one is going to lower their heads!
Its good ?
We will immediately switch to something else.
Time is running out, every point will count for the final battle in the Top 14.
I don't remember my good memories of Clermont.
Franck Azema
Problem, the Varois must redeem themselves after being swept away by Stade Toulousain (28-8) last weekend.
Bitter observation of Franck Azéma, now associated with Pierre Mignoni (another former member of the Clermont house!):
“We spent twenty minutes watching them play.
We were non-existent.
We lost too many balloons and they fed on it,
lamented the Toulon coach.
For a first move, we make a very frustrating copy.
Toulouse has dominated us because we have never been able to be effective on simple things.
Rebound expected.
Despite the conflict between him and the club where he spent a decade, Franck Azéma claims to have turned the page.
“It always resonates with things that we have experienced but we have moved on to something else,
” he told
Midi Olympique.
This week, I do not remember my good memories of Clermont, I am fully in the preparation for this match which will be important against a very good team.
That's stronger than I can feel.
“Proof nevertheless that he still thinks about this extra-sporting affair.
