Toulon fans as passionate as Old Firm, says Lamont

FORMER Glasgow and Scotland winger Rory Lamont has forecast a uniquely hostile experience for the Warriors when they open their Heineken Cup campaign against another of his former clubs, Toulon – comparing the local support to the Old Firm’s.

Rory Lamont, who spent two seasons at Toulon, says he has never come across a set of supporters as fiery. Picture: Getty

The cup draw in June was hugely welcomed among west coast rugby supporters when the Warriors were pitched in a pool with the new French and European champions, steered to success by Jonny Wilkinson. They also drew Exeter and Cardiff, teams viewed as beatable by a squad on the rise and bidding for a first-ever appearance in the European quarter-finals.

This week’s confirmation of the fixture list has only lifted the anticipation levels, handing Gregor Townsend’s squad a trip to the south of France on the opening weekend of European action in October and date with European rugby’s nouveau riche.

Backed by the multi-millions of Mourad Boudjellal, perhaps the DC Thomson of French culture – the local businessmen made his money in comic strips – RC Toulonnais returned to the top of French rugby in June after 20 years of struggle. Former France coach Bernard Laporte is the tactical brains behind the side, while on the pitch they boast a stunning league of nations talent, now including Englishmen Wilkinson, Andrew Sheridan and Steffon and Delon Armitage, Springboks Bakkies Botha, Danie Rossouw, Joe van Niekerk and Bryan Habana, All Blacks Carl Hayman and Chris Masoe, the Wallabies Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell, Italian prop Martin Castrogiovanni and Juan Fernandez Lobbe, the ex-Argentina skipper.

They have some decent Frenchmen too, notably bullocking centre Mathieu Bastareaud, Frederic Michalak and Maxime Mermoz on a total salary bill estimated at over £20m a year (Glasgow’s is £4.5m). But, according to Lamont, who spent two seasons at the Stade Felix Mayol, the on-field threat is only part of the danger.

Still recovering from the serious ankle injury that forced his retirement earlier this year, the 30-year-old said: “This is a game that the Glasgow squad and fans have to really look forward to because it will be huge, something none of them are likely to have experienced before.

“It will be a completely different experience for even the seasoned professionals who have not been there before. I have never come across an atmosphere like it anywhere else in club rugby. The fans are incredibly vocal and passionate. I’d say that it was at the same level that you get with the Old Firm football in Glasgow. The rugby is that ingrained in the local people and means so much to them. It is a way of life. They are fiery in the south of France, quite confrontational, and that makes for an amazing experience as a player.”

Could it be any harder? Lamont insisted, however, that it was far from a lost cause, having experienced defeats at Toulon and recalling times when the supporters turned against the team in a fashion he is hoping for when Glasgow pitch up.

“It’s great to have that support behind you, but there is also the potential for it to work in Glasgow’s favour,” he said. “I remember when teams got in the ascendency against us early on, the French supporters turned on us quickly and let you know the performance was not good enough. In my second season there we were going for the play-offs and were heavily beaten away to Montpellier, and we went across at the end to thank the large number of fans who’d travelled to support us and were met with tons of swearing, plenty hand gestures and spitting.

“That can work in Glasgow’s favour. It is an intimidating place, with a very gladiatorial feel, but if Glasgow can start well it’s funny how that passion can turn around and the Toulon players will feel glad of the big fence around the pitch!”

Edinburgh’s campaign starts at the less intimidating Murrayfield against familiar foe in Munster, but a week later they head to another notorious French venue, Perpignan’s Stade Aime Giral. Glasgow face Exeter back at Scotstoun with Gloucester and Cardiff the respective back-to-back opponents in December before January’s finish in a reverse of the opening fixtures.

While there remains uncertainty at Edinburgh as the SRU’s search for a new head coach takes on Holy Grail proportions, Lamont is hopeful that Glasgow start the season with all cylinders firing.

“Glasgow ultimately suffered last season for their slow start,” he added. “When the attack got going and they clicked in the second half of the season some of the rugby was the best I’ve ever seen from a Scottish team, but everybody was really disappointed with the Heineken Cup. They had Northampton for the taking but didn’t quite have the belief to finish them off. Had that game come later I think they would have won it.

“There is a lot of talent coming through and with guys like Al Kellock and my brother [Sean] keeping the younger guys’ feet on the ground I think they’ll relish kicking off the Heineken in Toulon. I hope they go on to have a really successful season.”

Key dates

Round One: Saturday 12 October - Edinburgh v Munster (Murrayfield, 1.35pm, Sky)

Sunday 13 October: Toulon v Glasgow (Stade Felix Mayol, 4pm).

Round Two: Sunday 20 October - Perpignan v Edinburgh (Stade Aime Giral, 1.45pm), Canal+); Glasgow v Exeter (Scotstoun, 2pm, no live TV).

Round Three: Friday 6 December - Cardiff v Glasgow (Cardiff Arms Park, Sky Sports)

Sunday 8 December: Edinburgh v Gloucester (Murrayfield, 1pm, no live TV).

Round Four: Friday 13 December - Glasgow v Cardiff (Scotstoun, 8pm, Sky Sports)

Sunday 15 December: Gloucester v Edinburgh (Kingsholm, 3pm, Sky Sports).

Round Five (fixtures dates for Rounds 5 & 6, times and broadcast agreements, are to be confirmed at a later date): 10/11/12 January - Exeter v Glasgow (Sandy Park); Edinburgh v Perpignan (Murrayfield).

Round Six: 17/18/19 January: Glasgow v Toulon (Scotstoun); Munster v Edinburgh (Thomond Park).