Kaino on why Europe is better than Super Rugby
CHAMPIONS CUP REACTION: Toulouse captain and former New Zealand loose forward Jerome Kaino said his team’s 22-21 Champions Cup quarterfinal win over Racing was the best club rugby result of his 15-year senior career.
It is a big statement from Kaino, who has spent most of his career playing in Super Rugby.
“It’s up there, not just the result but the atmosphere and the crowd. I’ve played a lot of rugby in New Zealand but there’s nothing outside of international rugby that can match that,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to what Dublin has to offer which is going to be amazing,” he added.
💡 Your #ChampionsCup semi-finals 💡
If this weekend’s action was anything to go by, we are in for a wild set of semi-finals 🏆@Saracens v @Munsterrugby @leinsterrugby v @StadeToulousain
Who will have enough to make the final? 🏟 pic.twitter.com/8AjKFicNSw
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) March 31, 2019
Toulouse will face Leinster in their semifinal in Dublin and Kaino knows that his team will be underdogs against the defending champs.
“We are going to have to throw the kitchen sink when we get to Dublin because it’s not going to be easy,” the 81-capped All Black said.
“Leinster are going to be another step up. They got put under a lot of heat from Ulster [in their quarterfinal] and showed how top notch their players are. They’re pretty much an international side,” he added.
🎺 FULL-TIME 🎺#ChampionsCup action of the highest order with a remarkable atmosphere 🏟🎉
A heroic performance from @StadeToulousain‘s 14 men against the stars of @racing92 💪
It had EVERYTHING you could ask for as a rugby fan 😍
Breathless, barn-storming, brilliant 🙌 pic.twitter.com/hnqv30IlVU
ADVERTISEMENT— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) March 31, 2019
With only one defeat since September in either Europe or the league Kaino refused to be drawn about a potential title double for the second time in the club’s history.
“We’re happy to be the only French side left but there are a lot of mountains to climb before we start raising our hands for victory,” he said.
“We’re not going to get too ahead of ourselves, we have a lot of rugby to be played before we even think about championships. First step was to get into the semifinals and we’ve done that,” he added.
The record 19-time French champions can secure a home Top 14 last four spot with three wins from their six remaining league games and travel to out-of-form Toulon next Saturday before hosting second-placed Clermont.
Head coach Ugo Mola echoed his skipper’s thoughts before travelling to the Irish capital on April 21.
“I’m going to concentrate on Toulon next week and then playing Clermont at home to maintain our top spot and we will see,” he said.
Mola praised the 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018 European champions Leinster after they won their quarterfinal against Ulster without the injured influential outside half Johnny Sexton as well as Ireland internationals Rob Kearney and Jack McGrath.
“They were incredible. They were even without some of their major players. For me they’re the team who control their gameplan the best in Europe despite a very good Ulster,” the Frenchman said.
“I hope the red shirt, which Ulster wore and we will wear will have the upper hand next time at the Aviva Stadium,” he added.
AFP
