Tensions are clearly running high at Metro-Racing as team mates Jonathan Sexton and Juandre Kruger had to be pulled apart during a heated training session on Tuesday.
Metro-Racing have been the inform team in during the second half of the Top14 season, and everything was on track for a home final until they were on the wrong end of a 44-10 thrashing in Montpellier.
Since then, the pressure has been on ahead of their away game to Toulouse. At training on Tuesday, the light-hearted camaraderie of recent weeks was replaced by stern faces and an intense workout.
“We’re preparing for a big match in Toulouse and there is obviously a lot of pressure and aggression,” said French international Bernard Le Roux.
During a contact session, Ireland fly-half Sexton reportedly screamed in the ear of Springbok lock Kruger for what he believed to be excessive physicality at a ruck. The former Bulls second row did not appreciate the Irishman’s attitude and the duo had to be separated by their team-mates.
Le Roux said, “We arrived in Montpellier very confident after our five straight wins, but lacked desire and that hiding we got probably did us good.
“We must be more focused and precise this week because we do not want the same game as on Saturday. “
“On Friday, we have to get in their faces,” he shouted at his players.
Centre Henry Chavancy was pleased with the intensity he saw in the session.
“I think if there is no commitment in a finals week, there never will be. “We saw a lot of commitment and desire in this session which is very good.
“We didn’t get it right in Montpellier and we can only blame ourselves. We must double our efforts this week to go to Toulouse and give it all we’ve got.”