Antoine Dupont (captain and scrum-half for Toulouse, beaten by Leinster 41-22 on Saturday in the Champions Cup semi-final): “I really felt a difference with last year’s game (40-17 loss) . Even if the score is almost the same, the physiognomy of the match is totally different. We made a very good start, we scored directly, we managed to carry the ball, to be dangerous. We were physically good, we managed to outflank them, to break their line, even if they caught up with the blows. We really felt like we could be dangerous and score points, which was very complicated last year. But when you take two yellow cards and give them points like that, it’s hard to argue behind. Whether it’s refereeing, our game, our strategy, there’s nothing to say when there are 40 points. We still have a title to go for (in Top 14).
And the scrum half and captain of the XV of France to add: “There are still matches so either we lower our heads and stop the season, or we remobilize and we will look for something else. I think the whole band has ambition. Beyond just saying “now we are focusing on the championship”, we must continue to work, even more, to be even more demanding with us because today there are details that do not forgive and faults too stupid that we must not do at this level. And unfortunately we still do. We have to learn and apply it quickly to get something else because the level will also be raised.
