Tell us what you really think Bernard…
Defeat for a star-studded Toulon against the struggling Cardiff Blues was the first major European upset of the season so far and Bernard Laporte is not a happy camper.
The 49 year-old head coach has publicly condemned both the performance and condition of his French side, calling it “pathetic” and insisting on an immediate effect after a surprising 19-15 reversal against the Blues.
Munster coach Rob Penney criticised Munster’s performance after an opening defeat to Edinburgh which stoked the fires, but the former French coach has gone further in his condemnation after the reigning champions fell to a side that have looked pretty average thus far this season.
“We lacked control, we were lifeless, unrecognisable … we were pathetic,” he told rugbyrama.fr.
“It really was a s*** match,” he fumed. “We were awful in our organisation. We have to react as quickly as possible. I can’t blame the players. They seem, to me, to be exhausted.”
While he questioned the fitness of his players, he did seem to absolve his backroom team of any blame.
“It is clear that, physically, we have a big problem,” he continued. “I am not going to say that it is the fault of our fitness team, because they are the same as last year.”
Toulon currently lead the way domestically in France and defeat in Wales follows an emphatic victory over Glasgow in the opening pool game.
Laporte was never one for mincing his words.
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