In a post-match press conference, UBB manager Christophe Urios regretted his team’s lack of control at certain times during the match. But, many points of satisfaction are also underlined. Extracts.
You expected a big fight. Has your team responded appropriately in this area?
Christopher Urios: “Fighting is everywhere, in Toulon like everywhere. To think that you are going to play away matches without a fight is to be a sweet dreamer. I have two feelings tonight. I am quite satisfied with the state of mind because I didn’t really know it, I’m quite satisfied with the entry of young people, because we had a lot of young people today. I’m quite satisfied with the defensive bonus point. But I’m not absolutely not satisfied with our end to the match. Luckily we took the bonus, because it would have pissed me off to lose a bonus like that. Afterwards, we made too many mistakes in the match. We were undisciplined, without success at the foot, the touch didn’t work. To win the away game is not easy. I have this mixed feeling between the duty accomplished in the state of mind and this feeling of dissatisfaction because ‘we have too much waste in our game. This point is important, all points are important. We have a week now to prepare for the reception racing”.
– Justine Hamon
You too have made a commitment tonight. But poorly controlled?
Christopher Urios: “We did not control well, especially in the first half yes. The engagement was better controlled in the second period. But, it is true that we did not control well in the first half, especially in the rucks. We wanted them to put pressure on the rucks. They don’t put us in difficulty, we have strong tackles in the first period with this desire to beat them on that. But, we attacked the rucks badly. That’s the whole evolution we still have to work on in matches like that, at high tension. We had warm blood today, you told me we’d have to have cold blood, I said we’d have to have warm blood, it’s was good, after that we have to manage to master more things”.
Did the young people rather show a pretty face during this match?
Christopher Urios: “At one time, we said, as long as you haven’t played in Toulon, you’re a virgin. It’s a little less true now with modern rugby. There were lots of kids who discovered Mayol on occasion of this match. The kids were numerous, 19-year-old kids. It’s good for our team, it’s good for them and it’s good for us. The youngsters had a very good comeback”.