Toulon feeling 'no pressure' in happy Dublin hunting ground

Three years ago at the Aviva Stadium, Toulon defeated Glasgow Warriors to win the Challenge Cup, their only silverware thus far under Pierre Mignoni

Toulon director of rugby Pierre Mignoni: "This group wants to start its history in the Champions Cup." Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Pierre Mignoni carried an air of calm on Friday in the Aviva Stadium. And well he might.

It was in the Ballsbridge venue three years ago that the Toulon coach claimed his first and, to date, only piece of silverware with a club he had previously played for when the Top 14 side brushed past Glasgow to claim the Challenge Cup.

And it was in the Aviva where Toulon claimed the first of their three successive Champions Cup titles back in 2013 when they had one point to spare on Clermont Auvergne. Now they’re trending back towards that summit.

Last year’s ascent ended with a three-point quarter-final loss to Toulouse. Now they’re back in the last four and looking to kick on again against a Leinster side that fell all four times to them back when their illustrious predecessors were annexing three titles on the trot.

“History matters,” said Mignoni. “It’s very important for us but no particular pressure. The players of today are different to 11 years ago, the last time we played in the semi-final and final. There is no pressure, just a lot of excitement.

“This group wants to start its history in the Champions Cup. We came here in 2023 and won the Challenge Cup and started to write this history and we want to continue. Eleven and 12 years ago is a beautiful story but that is over.

“We are still playing a Leinster team present every year at this stage of the tournament and that means they have experience. I have players with that too. At international level. But we would admit they are much more ahead than we are the last few years.” 

Toulon's Paolo Garbisi during his side's captain's run at the Aviva Stadium ahead of their Champions Cup semi-final against Leinster. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

So much has changed since their galactico era.

Cheslin Kolbe, Dan Biggar, Sergio Parisse and Mathieu Bastareaud are among those who have since moved on or joined the staff. Only five of the players who won Challenge Cup medals in 2023 will feature here this time, but this is an eminently capable side.

Kyle Sinckler, Juan Ignacio Brex, Gaël Dréan, Melvyn Jaminet and Ben White make up some of the players drafted in more recently. None threaten Jonny Wilkinson’s status as local legend but Baptiste Serin is a back-up and Paolo Garbisi couldn’t even make the squad.

“I look at the evolution of the team. Every year we have made some progress. We have put ourselves in a difficult position in the Top 14 by losing our last two games because we started better than that, but that is the Top 14. For the Champions Cup it is a first semi-final for this group.

“We need to show [on Saturday] that we are learning from our mistakes, our experiences. We haven’t succeeded in everything. We won the Challenge Cup three years ago. We have players who have experienced that. We need to build trust. We know how to do those matches together. We don’t need to overthink it.”