Laurent Travers before Toulouse – Racing 92: “we are not in a favorable tie”
Laurent Travers (Racing 92 manager): “We are several teams not to have played the last week, so we find ourselves with Toulouse, in the same configuration. In this regard, I think that the two teams will be on an equal footing. We know they are in a better position than ours, so it’s up to us to do what it takes to play the best game possible and get back on track. As in the Champions Cup matches.
It is true that the last European Cup match could have put us in a dynamic. The fact that it did not take place (it had been canceled due to many Covid cases) forces us to reset the counters. We put in a good performance at Northampton (14-45 on December 10), behind there is a cut. Then another performance at the Ospreys (10-25, Jan. 15) and yet another cut. So, I hope there will be a good performance in Toulouse. We know where we put our feet and they too have not played. They will be in a positive configuration, especially with the players they can recover. What will be important for us is that we are focused and that we do what is necessary to prepare well for the future. Because for the moment, we are not in a favorable tie.
Behavior and state of mind will be essential for us. And if there can be more, so much the better. What is important is to respond present and that the players do what it takes to deliver a big game of rugby. And I’m not worried, there will be a very good team from Toulouse in front so we stay focused on us.
Boris Palu (second row of Racing 92): “It feels good to be back in the Top 14, to be able to play a match because right now we can say that we are playing one out of three. In addition, it will be against a good opponent. We hope that this will smile on us as much as in the first leg (27-18 victory, on October 10).
We are not yet in the Top 6, so we will have to go play everywhere and no matter who is in front. We have a game plan, we decided how we were going to play so we will go to Toulouse to get points and a result. Now all trips until the end of the year will be like this. As long as we are not secure in the first 6.
As we receive twice then, it is sure that if there is a result this weekend, it is good. Knowing that we no longer have the right to make mistakes at home, there are twelve points to collect in three games so it can be taken”.
Antoine Gibert (Racing 92 fly half) : “We are on three consecutive victories after that of Clermont (33-28, January 8) even if we did not play last week. We arrive with a little more confidence than before, so it’s up to us to get even more from the champion of France. I don’t know if our phases of less well in the matches have passed but it is up to us to better manage these weak times to concede fewer points. The matches are never more than a highlight of 80 minutes, there are necessarily weak times.