It’s a story, like a tale, worthy of starting with the reassuring “once upon a time”. The story of the crossed destiny of two clubs, Lyon and Toulon, determined to keep the English neighbors of Wasps and Saracens out of their way, whom they face in the semi-final of the Challenge Cup on Saturday May 14. One thing separates them however, if the LOU wants to win its first European final, Toulon wants to become a cador in Europe again.
Lyon, in search of its first European star
That the LOU has come a long way since the arrival of Pierre Mignoni at the helm of the club in 2015. A crowning of Pro D2 champion and a rise in the Top 14 (2016) or even the semi-finals of the Top 14 in 2018 and 2019 when the club had not known such a course since the 1930s. Before joining Toulon next season, the technician hopes to bow out on a coronation.
Pretty excited to keep making history. That’s what’s important. It’s historic for the club to know a European Cup semi-final at home, but it’s not an end. We know where we want to go, it will go through this still difficult match.
Pierre Mignoni, LOU coachat the pre-match press conference
Baptiste Couilloud’s teammates, fifth in the championship and perfectly placed in the race for the final stages, are two games away from a first European title. To offer a dream end to their coach’s adventure, the Lyonnais will have to bring down the Wasps, transferred from the Champions Cup to the Challenge Cup, on Saturday afternoon. The English who had beaten Toulouse in January.
No doubt that the LOU, stunning against Glasgow last week (35-27) and the only team still undefeated to date in the competition (six victories), is heading towards this shock with appetite.
Toulon, in search of its past glory
A sweet perfume of Champions Cup will envelop the Mayol stadium, Saturday evening (9 p.m., to follow on France 4). Because if they have to be satisfied with his little sister, a duel between Varois and English recalls the best hours of those who reigned over European rugby for almost a decade. In the 2010s, the Toulonnais and the Sarries won six Champions Cups (three for the RCT 2013-2014-2015, three for the Saracens 2016-2017-2019).
They are two similar clubs in their fighting spirit, their history too. They have an extraordinary history and they have come a long way.
RCT hooker Christopher Tolofuaat the pre-match press conference
It is therefore two revengeful clubs, eager for a new European trophy and in a hurry to make their return among the greatest, who will face each other in the semi-finals. If the culture of winning brings the two institutions closer together, the similarities end here. This shock is the result of two very distinct trajectories that began once the reign was over.
On the Toulon side, the bygone era of Wilkinson, Habana, Botha gave way to a period of uncertainty where the RCT fought to find the right formula and replay the leading roles (succession of coaches, change of direction). Stuck in the depths of the championship after a sluggish start to the season, the Varois have nevertheless found their colors since the arrival of Franck Azéma and the return of executives like Baptiste Serin, Louis Carbonel or Charles Ollivon.
Now eighth, they can even still hope to grab the final stages but the matter is no longer in their hands. A victory in the Challenge Cup, the winner automatically plays the Champions Cup the following season, is a shortcut to make an impression and regain his status as a European cador as quickly as possible.
A concern that will not pollute English minds. Dolphins of Leicester in the league for their return season in the elite after their demotion for non-respect of the salary cap in 2020, the Saracens and their army of English internationals are already guaranteed to find the big European Cup next year. The Toulonnais will have a mountain to drop to win their ticket to the final.