Through Simon galinier
Published on
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After a totally failed last season (elimination on the green carpet in 8e the Champions Cup final and non-qualification for the finals of the Top 14), there is an urgent need for results in Toulon! Revenge, the Varois of Patrice Collazo are obliged tograb a place in the top 6, on pain of copiously annoying its fervent supporters, but especially its president Bernard Lemaître, so patience has limits. “There will be no other season like the last”, he had also warned at the end of the previous exercise.
To do this, the RCT carried out a targeted and intelligent 2021-2022 recruitment, by attracting young talents in the making such as the Bayonnais Aymeric Luc (23), approached by many Top 14 teams, or the Fijian winger Jiuta Wainiqolo (22 years old), Olympic rugby sevens champion this summer, in Tokyo, but also elements of experience such as Quinn Roux, Kieran Brookes Where Cornell du Preez.
Not qualified for the Champions Cup, the triple European champion will also have to fight at the lower level, in Challenge Cup, next season. So why not aim for a title in this competition, like Montpellier, who was able to save his last season by winning this trophy against Leicester.
The big deal of the transfer window: Aymeric Luc
Unhappy hero of the accession-relegation derby against Biarritz, who missed the decisive shot on goal last June at Aguiléra, the former Bayonne back-winger, Aymeric Luc (23 years old), decided to change air this summer. Courted by several Elite clubs, he played his release clause following the relegation of Rowing to Pro D2 and finally decided to commit for three seasons to Toulon.
Penultimate Toulon recruit, after the Fijian Leon Nakarawa, Luc has undoubtedly been the most dangerous and regular Bayonnais of the last year. Author of 10 tries in 24 games, we even saw it brilliantly repaired at the opening, against Castres and Clermont. If he continues his momentum and manages to make a place for himself under the Var sun, he could be one of the very good picks of the Var recruitment on the right wing or at the rear, where he will be in competition with Gervais Cordin and Thomas Salles.
The XV-type for the 2021-2022 season
Toulon’s typical team for the 2021-2022 season
Luc (or Cordin); Cordin (or Wainiqolo), Hériteau, Paia’aua (or Belleau), Villière; (o) Carbonel, (m) Serin (cap.); Rebbadj (or Lakafia), Parisse, Ollivon; Alainu’uese, Etzebeth; Gigashvili, Etrillard, Gros.
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The departure that hurts: Romain Taofifenua
At the end of the contract at RCT last June, the second line of the XV of France, Romain Taofifenua (30 years old; 20 selections), has chosen to change horizons by committing to Lyon for three years. At LOU, the eldest of the “Tao” will evolve again alongside his little brother Sébastien, who signed until 2023, and also joined the large colony of former Var residents present in the Rhône, around the native Toulonnais Pierre Mignoni.
Hit in the neck at the end of last season, the colossus (2.00m; 133 kg) will bring all his power and his high level experience to the Lyonnais, if his physical form is optimal. In the capital of Gaul, the native of Mont-de-Marsan (Landes) will also be responsible for making the Australian forget Izack Rodda, returned to the country this summer. Which will not be easy.
Among the other damaging losses of the RCT, we could also have mentioned the surprising Fijian Masivesi Dakuwaqa (27 years old), able to evolve as well in the wing, as in the center and even in the third row. A versatility that was worth gold for Patrice Collazo and his staff.
The transfer table
The arrivals
Kieran Brookes (pillar, 30, Wasps); Leone Nakarawa (second row, 33, Glasgow), Quinn Roux (second row, 30, Connacht), Cornell du Preez (third row, 30, Worcester), Lopeti Timani (third row, 30, La Rochelle), Julien Blanc (scrum half, 28, Brive), Jules Danglot (scrum half, 19, Montpellier), Mathieu Smaïli (opening half, 21, Return from loan Mont-de-Marsan), Petero Tuwaï ( center, 25, Southern RFC), Atila Septar (winger, 25, Pau), Jiuta Wainiqolo (winger, 22, Fiji 7’s); Thomas Salles (rear, 24, Aurillac) and Aymeric Luc (rear, 23, Bayonne)
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Departures
Jérémy Boyadjis (pillar, 31 years old, Carcassonne); Sébastien Taofifenua (pillar, 29 years old, Lyon); Luka Tchelidze (pillar, 20 years old, Bayonne); Romain Taofifenua (second row, 30 years old, Lyon); Levi Douglas (second line, 25, Grenoble); Thomas Hoarau (third row, 26 years old, Béziers); Anthony Méric (scrum half, 26, Montauban); Frédérick Du Plessis (opening half, 20 years old); Ma’a Nonu (center, 39, San Diego); Rudi Wulf (center-winger, 37, retired); Isaia Toeava (center, 35, Bayonne); Daniel Ikpefan (winger, 27, Pau); Masivesi Dakuwaqa (winger, center, 3rd row, 27, Montpellier) and Ramiro Moyano (back, 31, Edinburgh).
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