TOULON PRESIDENT MOURAD Boudjellal paid tribute to Munster’s efforts after his club overcame the Irish province in the Heineken Cup semi-final at Stade Vélodrome in Marseille yesterday.
Asked for his reaction to reaching a second consecutive final – where RCT will meet Premiership outfit Saracens – the millionaire started by graciously mentioning the beaten opponent.
“I want to start by congratulating Munster,” Boudjellal told Rugbyrama. ”Rarely have we been in difficulty like we were today [Sunday]. We make good winners because we beat a great team. To win two Heineken Cup would be something extraordinary, but we will not celebrate yet.
In the final, we’ll play a Saracens team that has nothing to do with the one we met last year. However, I am very proud that RCT are the last representatives of French rugby in the European Cup, especially with our coach in the stands.”
Out-half Jonny Wilkinson, a personal favourite of Boudjellal’s, kicked 21 of Toulon’s 24 points in the victory over Munster, and the president of the Top 14 side took the time to highlight the 34-year-old’s contributions.
“Jonny Wilkinson is one of those players who makes their team win. Having him on your side allows a psychological advantage over your opponent. Before the game, we knew he was going to be good, he was in his own bubble all day.
“We all want to offer something to Jonny, especially against an English club [in the final]. That’s not saying he will stop at the end of the season, but we are not certain of getting into another final and offering him this gift again.”
For his part, Wilkinson stated his pleasure at playing with such an excellent Toulon team, while pointing out that Saracens will provide a demanding test in the final next month.
It’s a pleasure to play with these players who work for each other. We saw that huge game from Saracens against Clermont. In France, we didn’t expect that. So we know that this will be a real final but Toulon is a team where nothing is impossible.
“There are good young players and I have to be pretty good or I’ll lose my place. There is a very positive competition within the group.”
