Canal + rugby director Eric Bayle confided via The mountain approaching the match between Clermont and Toulon, scheduled for Sunday evening at the Stade Marcel-Michelin.
The latter explains why this meeting is eagerly awaited by the broadcaster. Extract:
“There are two distinct aspects to me. In terms of the sporting stakes, it is formidable with most of the matches which are tight, fierce, a suspense which can last until the last moments. With also a classification which does not allow to say who will be semi-finalist, who will qualify or who will be relegated. It is therefore a beautiful championship for the supporters who can vibrate. Afterwards, the show touch is missing, we have seen a lot of closed matches. We can count the major rugby matches on the fingers of one hand.
Today, I tend to take my hat off to Perpignan who send the game when they are in a difficult situation and it works for them.
He does not fail to rail a little rant against the absence of play in certain meetings of the Top 14. Extract:
“I have my dose of candles and balloons carried. I have just commented on two prime times (Stade Français – Bordeaux and Bordeaux – Clermont) on Sunday evenings at zero try. I ask the question, why the stake cannot rhyme with the game?? Even if I always enjoy commenting on a close match, we are still unsatisfied in terms of the show.
He said he was thrilled with the services provided by Aviron Bayonnais. Extract:
“The performance of Bayonne, which pleases me personally (note: Éric Bayle is from Bayonne). It’s an amazing team, 6th eight days from the end, for a promoted, it’s not nothing. And in the other direction, the bad surprise concerns the difficulties of the last two finalists, Montpellier and especially Castres. It also proves the phenomenal density of this championship.”
To come back to this Clermont – Toulon, it evokes an essential poster of the Top 14. Extract:
“Since 2010, it remains an essential poster of the Top 14. I allow myself a little fantasy… we talked a lot about the clasico between Toulouse and Paris, there, it’s a declasico between ASM and Toulon, two downgraded teams. Maybe not for long, I wish them anyway. Despite this, there is bound to be a sporting interest in this Sunday’s match. An interest in Clermont reinforced by the arrival of Christophe Urios, reinforced on the Toulon side by the improvement of his sporting situation. So, a Clermont – Toulon, it can be tasted regardless of the ranking of the two teams.
He confirms that the audience is still strong for this match. Extract:
“Rugby fans have known for more than ten years that there have been epic clashes between Clermont and Toulon. Something always happens, it’s a shock that always clicks. It’s an essential poster because there are also major coaches, well-known players. And a strong sports situation?; this is the very last chance match for ASM and if Toulon wins, it will be a very, very serious candidate for qualification.”
However, he claims that Toulon and Clermont come far behind Toulouse in terms of audience. Extract:
“The 2010s were marked by an audience locomotive driven by three clubs: Toulouse, Clermont and Toulon. Today, there is a locomotive, Toulouse, but there is no longer a wagon just behind it. Clearly, the broadcaster is the loser because ASM and Toulon are less competitive today. Behind, we do our job to expose emerging teams, such as UBB, Montpellier or La Rochelle. So, even if Clermont and Toulon remain steeped in memories and history, when it plays less well, the audience also drops out a little.
