Keeping the taste of "bitterness" in the mouth: Toulon residents think about what comes next after RCT's defeat against Bordeaux

" We came up against a Bordeaux team that was more settled, more experienced, more precise, more efficient." In the heat of Lyon, the observation of hooker Teddy Baubigny, just a few minutes after his team's elimination in the semi-final (24-39), was as lucid as it was clear.

A sentiment shared by Jérémy Sinzelle, the most experienced forward: "We never got the hang of this match. What did we lack? A bit of experience, I think. We approached the event better than last year against La Rochelle in the play-off or this year's Champions Cup quarter-final against Toulouse. But the outcome is the same. We have to keep going."

"We are on the right path"

Although Mignoni's gang came up against a seasoned Girondins team, now accustomed to these big events, on Saturday evening, they were, above all, once again facing the very highest level.

"On a night like this, you have to look back, where you came from, but also ahead," Pierre Mignoni analyzes. "This team has progressed, that's the reality. But we're not yet at the level we want to be. I'm disappointed and sad for the players, for the club, for the supporters."

Before promising, already, that the RCT will return: "We are on the right path. We will work very hard to reach this new milestone. In the immediate future, we must take advantage of the players who will be leaving, to close our season, our adventure well. We played a quarter-final of the Champions Cup and a semi-final of the Top 14, that has not happened in Toulon for a long time. So, we will work even harder to reach a milestone physically and in our rugby. Count on me to get back to work."

And don't count on his squad to give up either. Even though he's hurt, competitor Jérémy Sinzelle continues: "When you concede 40 in the semi-finals, you have to be realistic: there's still a gap. But, this season, we've improved in all areas. We've managed to better understand these types of events. The squad is gaining experience. Whether on an individual or collective level. We have a fairly young team. You have to play these kinds of matches to be able to play them again later and win them. It's the process. Even though, I'm not going to lie, I didn't want the adventure to end."

"It's time for this group to step up."

A speech supported by Teddy Baubigny, leader of the forwards: "The team is moving forward. We weren't invited tonight [Saturday] but not everything is to be thrown away. We'll have to use this semi-final. I hope this bitterness will continue next year. So that we have a little more anger in this kind of match. And I hope that the Top 14 will be able to count on us next season. It's time for this group to step up."

Inevitably stunned, disappointed, frustrated, angry, and still misty-eyed, the Toulon players decided to stand firm. Not to give up. Because, yes, the RCT fell in the semi-finals, against the new European champion.

But no, that's not the goal of this group. Since Pierre Mignoni's return three years ago, this Toulon has been rebuilding itself, step by step. Another step has been taken. Not the most glorious, but a new, essential level of stabilization.

And tomorrow, lily of the valley will be back at the top of the table, be sure of that.