Toulouse has built its success on Racingthanks to a big domination in the scrum...
Cyril Baille: In this sector, the questioning is permanent, every weekend, we want to be as efficient as possible. There it worked, but if next weekend it is not the case, we will be high. You can have three or four scrums in a game, and they can be completely different. It worked well, we focused on working well on it and being supportive. But this is not a truth, nor an end in itself.
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Did you expect to dominate this match so much?
Honestly, no. But, from the beginning of the match, we had the facts of the game that were for us. We quickly scored, it allowed us to put the trend in our favor. Afterwards, at half-time, we were 20-0, it could also be a trap. We told ourselves that we should not give up and we continued to put our foot on the floor because we feared this Racing team. We know that they can make a difference on any action. We saw it at the end of the match where they scored two tries.
"Last season hurt us tremendously. We learned a lot too."
When the score is heavy at the end of the match, do we think about preserving ourselves for the final?
Subconsciously, when you take the score like that, there may be a form of relaxation. We took two tries at the end of the game, we have to be able to correct it for next week. These are small details. When you are in front of the score, you tend to relax.
That way, you give your staff grist to grind...
You have to make them work a little! (Laughter) More seriously, they knew how to manage the group this year. They give 200%, we are happy for Ugo (Mola) and all the staff. It rewards them too. They are all there for us, it is also for them that we go to Paris.
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We feel that Stade Toulousain has regained confidence in him, in his game...
We try to question ourselves. Last season hurt us tremendously. We learned a lot too. We try to be there every time. There, we were still in the semi-finals and we go back to Paris. For now, we don't realize too much but it's phenomenal. When we are 10 years older, we will say it over a beer. You have to bite into it.
"We are a group of competitors and when we lose, we are never happy"
Was the disappointment of losing the semi-final to Leinster easy to evacuate?
It was very hard to digest. It was the third time we lost in Dublin. We are a group of competitors and when we lose, we are never happy. Especially when you take a rugby lesson like that... But, even if you have the balls, it continues to make you learn.
Do you have a preference between La Rochelle and UBB for the final?
These two teams are among the top four teams of the season. Whether it is one or the other, it will be very complicated. A final is so special, it depends on so many things...
And you went to commune with your supporters at the end of the match...
We're lucky to be supported like that. Today, there were many people from Toulouse. We felt the craze around our hotel, we heard a lot of screams while we ate, it was quite funny. It's also for them, for the city. They are happy to come. And in Paris, I think there will also be people next week.