HEINEKEN CUP HOLDERS Toulon will start as the slight favourites in their semi-final against Ireland’s two-time champions Munster on Sunday, according to the club’s head coach Bernard Laporte.
The 49-year-old former France boss – who is serving a 16-week touchline ban for verbally abusing a referee – says that playing the match in nearby Marseille will give them the edge over the Irish province.
“All of the Munster coaching staff were at our Top 14 game in Barcelona on Saturday [in which they beat Perpignan 46-31] and they have nothing but the European Cup in their heads,” said Laporte.
Their strength in the mauls is an undeniable weapon. They are equally strong in the line-outs as well. They haven’t reached this stage of the competition for nothing, but then they would say the same thing about us.
Advertisement
“We have a slight advantage in that we are playing at home, at the Velodrome. One can say that the match is 51 to 49% in our favour. Even if one recalls that last year we went away to Saracens [in England] and won.”
Laporte says Toulon are in better form and shape – their win over Perpignan took them top of the Top 14 table – than last year because there is more competition for places within the squad.
Steffon Armitage has been incredibly effective in contact this season. James Crombiee / INPHO
James Crombiee / INPHO / INPHO
“This season we have a squad of 30 to 35 players competing for places in the line-ups for both competitions. One has to have a large body of players to select from, otherwise it is impossible to focus on two fronts.
“Also with regard to last season several players have made progress, and there is also more maturity in the squad.
The most obvious example is that of [lock] Jocelino Suta. Last year he was satisfied to be second or third choice. Now he has assumed his responsibilities and behaves like a first choice. He has made a huge amount of progress.”
Fortunately for Laporte, Suta is fit and firing on all cylinders as Toulon’s two most experienced locks, World Cup winners Bakkies Botha [Springboks in 2007]and Ali Williams [All Blacks in 2011], are doubtful for the game.
“Ali and Bakkies are improving and we hope to have them back, but we will see about that. The season doesn’t finish on Sunday. There will be other games to come and we will need everyone.
“Suta, though, has been able to prove himself in their absence. However, the more people we have the less the worries.”
'The match is 51 to 49% in our favour' - Toulon head coach Laporte
HEINEKEN CUP HOLDERS Toulon will start as the slight favourites in their semi-final against Ireland’s two-time champions Munster on Sunday, according to the club’s head coach Bernard Laporte.
The 49-year-old former France boss – who is serving a 16-week touchline ban for verbally abusing a referee – says that playing the match in nearby Marseille will give them the edge over the Irish province.
“All of the Munster coaching staff were at our Top 14 game in Barcelona on Saturday [in which they beat Perpignan 46-31] and they have nothing but the European Cup in their heads,” said Laporte.
“We have a slight advantage in that we are playing at home, at the Velodrome. One can say that the match is 51 to 49% in our favour. Even if one recalls that last year we went away to Saracens [in England] and won.”
Laporte says Toulon are in better form and shape – their win over Perpignan took them top of the Top 14 table – than last year because there is more competition for places within the squad.
“This season we have a squad of 30 to 35 players competing for places in the line-ups for both competitions. One has to have a large body of players to select from, otherwise it is impossible to focus on two fronts.
“Also with regard to last season several players have made progress, and there is also more maturity in the squad.
Fortunately for Laporte, Suta is fit and firing on all cylinders as Toulon’s two most experienced locks, World Cup winners Bakkies Botha [Springboks in 2007]and Ali Williams [All Blacks in 2011], are doubtful for the game.
“Ali and Bakkies are improving and we hope to have them back, but we will see about that. The season doesn’t finish on Sunday. There will be other games to come and we will need everyone.
“Suta, though, has been able to prove himself in their absence. However, the more people we have the less the worries.”
- © AFP, 2014
A look back at Munster’s European campaign ahead of Marseille invasion
Analysis: Toulon combine freakish power with clever twists, but Munster can cope
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
bernard laporte European Rugby Champions Cup Mind Games? Munster Toulon