THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY lumped together in the one bracket, most often for the purposes of identifying the likely recruiters for Ireland’s best and brightest rugby players.
But in Twickenham this afternoon Clermont and Toulon will be approaching from very different angles.
Jono Gibbes talks his pack through the last details in yesterday's captain's run. Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
For Toulon, today’s Champions Cup final (KO 17.00, Sky/BT) is about extending their era. They can turn dominance into a dynasty by adding the newly crafted trophy to the back-to-back Heineken Cups on Mourad Boudjellal’s mantelpiece.
Winning has become a habit for the team from the Cote D’Azur. The last time they tasted defeat in a knockout round of the European Cup is a wistful four-year-old memory of a 2011 quarter-final exit in Perpignan.
Look through their team-sheet below. It’s crammed full of winners. Whether it’s Toulon’s own triumphs as aided by Carl Hayman, Mathieu Bastareaud and Steffon Armitage, the Grand Slam enjoyed by Leigh Halfpenny or the small matter of World Cup medals belonging to Bryan Habana, Bakkies Botha and Juan Smith — Toulon have men for all seasons.
Toulon force Gopperth to slice his drop-goal to the right of the posts. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Head coach Bernard Laporte has taken stock of the incredible resources at his disposal and opted to twist his starting line-up. Out goes Freddy Michalak after extra-time was needed to bypass Leinster in the semi. Matt Giteau takes over at number 10 with the brilliant Argentine Juan Martin Hernandez slotting in along side the Wallaby at inside centre.
Perhaps more importantly, Steffon Armitage has been reinstated to openside flanker having been left to make his inimitable breakdown impact from the replacements bench in Marseille.
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Clermont are no slouches after the tackle themselves. With ex-Leinster forwards coach Jono Gibbes on board, they demand relentless attention to detail at ruck time. Head coach Franck Azema has added a touch extra ooomph to his back row with the addition of Fritz Lee at number eight in place of Julien Bardy and a Morgan Parra’s return to full fitness is the only other change.
Les Jaunards will hope to inspire their side to victory today. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
For a fortnight since claiming their final berth with a narrow win over Saracens, Clermont players have been at pains to stress that today’s final derives no influence from previous title deciders. If it has sounded a bit like they were perhaps protesting too much, it’s because they have every reason to fear a case of history repeating.
In this part of the world, the memory of Clermont laying siege to the Leinster line in 2010 is still fresh. With a foot on the champions’ neck, Brock James couldn’t or wouldn’t deliver the coup de grace.
Then there’s the 2013 Heineken Cup final where today’s opponents smashed and grabbed victory despite facing an 11-point deficit going in to the final quarter. Had enough of so-near-yet-so-far anguish? How do 10 defeats to 1 win in French Championship finals grab you?
Almost every neutral appears to hope to see a new champion. Clermont certainly have the tools to make sure it’s their name engraved on the unblemished silver: James is in imperious form with both the boot and playmaking from his hands as he proved in creating the decisive try in the semi-final for the prolific Wesley Fofana.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO
Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Up front they have the redoubtable Jamie Cudmore in front of that dynamic back-row of Lee, Chouly and Bonnaire. And if they lay a platform to go wide, well, even Bryan Habana will have to dig deep to keep track of Noa Nakaitaci, Naipolioni Nalaga and the wispish Nick Abendanon.
Toulon will jangle their medals and aim to spook their Top14 rivals with the ghosts of finals past. Clermont will strap their blinkers on to focus everything on the task at hand. After all, they’re far too good to be anybody’s lovable loser.
Clermont
15. Nick Abendanon
14. Noa Nakaitaci
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Wesley Fofana
11. Naipolioni Nalaga
10. Brock James
9. Morgan Parra
1. Vincent Debaty
2. Benjamin Kayser
3. Davit Zirakashvili
4. Jamie Cudmore
5. Sébastien Vahaamahina
6. Julien Bonnaire
7. Damien Chouly (capt.)
8. Fritz Lee
Replacements:
16. John Ulugia
17. Thomas Domingo
18. Clément Ric
19. Julien Pierre
20. Julien Bardy
21. Ludovic Radoslavjevic
22. Camille Lopez
23. Aurélien Rougerie
Toulon
15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Drew Mitchell
13. Mathieu Bastareaud
12. Juan Martin Hernandez
11. Bryan Habana
10. Matt Giteau
9. Sebastien Tillous-Borde
1. Xavier Chiocci
2. Guilhem Guirado
3. Carl Hayman (capt.)
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Ali Williams
6. Juan Smith
7. Steffon Armitage
8. Chris Masoe
Clermont ready to topple mighty Toulon and the weight of history
THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY lumped together in the one bracket, most often for the purposes of identifying the likely recruiters for Ireland’s best and brightest rugby players.
But in Twickenham this afternoon Clermont and Toulon will be approaching from very different angles.
For Toulon, today’s Champions Cup final (KO 17.00, Sky/BT) is about extending their era. They can turn dominance into a dynasty by adding the newly crafted trophy to the back-to-back Heineken Cups on Mourad Boudjellal’s mantelpiece.
Winning has become a habit for the team from the Cote D’Azur. The last time they tasted defeat in a knockout round of the European Cup is a wistful four-year-old memory of a 2011 quarter-final exit in Perpignan.
Look through their team-sheet below. It’s crammed full of winners. Whether it’s Toulon’s own triumphs as aided by Carl Hayman, Mathieu Bastareaud and Steffon Armitage, the Grand Slam enjoyed by Leigh Halfpenny or the small matter of World Cup medals belonging to Bryan Habana, Bakkies Botha and Juan Smith — Toulon have men for all seasons.
Head coach Bernard Laporte has taken stock of the incredible resources at his disposal and opted to twist his starting line-up. Out goes Freddy Michalak after extra-time was needed to bypass Leinster in the semi. Matt Giteau takes over at number 10 with the brilliant Argentine Juan Martin Hernandez slotting in along side the Wallaby at inside centre.
Perhaps more importantly, Steffon Armitage has been reinstated to openside flanker having been left to make his inimitable breakdown impact from the replacements bench in Marseille.
Clermont are no slouches after the tackle themselves. With ex-Leinster forwards coach Jono Gibbes on board, they demand relentless attention to detail at ruck time. Head coach Franck Azema has added a touch extra ooomph to his back row with the addition of Fritz Lee at number eight in place of Julien Bardy and a Morgan Parra’s return to full fitness is the only other change.
For a fortnight since claiming their final berth with a narrow win over Saracens, Clermont players have been at pains to stress that today’s final derives no influence from previous title deciders. If it has sounded a bit like they were perhaps protesting too much, it’s because they have every reason to fear a case of history repeating.
In this part of the world, the memory of Clermont laying siege to the Leinster line in 2010 is still fresh. With a foot on the champions’ neck, Brock James couldn’t or wouldn’t deliver the coup de grace.
Then there’s the 2013 Heineken Cup final where today’s opponents smashed and grabbed victory despite facing an 11-point deficit going in to the final quarter. Had enough of so-near-yet-so-far anguish? How do 10 defeats to 1 win in French Championship finals grab you?
Almost every neutral appears to hope to see a new champion. Clermont certainly have the tools to make sure it’s their name engraved on the unblemished silver: James is in imperious form with both the boot and playmaking from his hands as he proved in creating the decisive try in the semi-final for the prolific Wesley Fofana.
Up front they have the redoubtable Jamie Cudmore in front of that dynamic back-row of Lee, Chouly and Bonnaire. And if they lay a platform to go wide, well, even Bryan Habana will have to dig deep to keep track of Noa Nakaitaci, Naipolioni Nalaga and the wispish Nick Abendanon.
Toulon will jangle their medals and aim to spook their Top14 rivals with the ghosts of finals past. Clermont will strap their blinkers on to focus everything on the task at hand. After all, they’re far too good to be anybody’s lovable loser.
Clermont
15. Nick Abendanon
14. Noa Nakaitaci
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Wesley Fofana
11. Naipolioni Nalaga
10. Brock James
9. Morgan Parra
1. Vincent Debaty
2. Benjamin Kayser
3. Davit Zirakashvili
4. Jamie Cudmore
5. Sébastien Vahaamahina
6. Julien Bonnaire
7. Damien Chouly (capt.)
8. Fritz Lee
Replacements:
Toulon
15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Drew Mitchell
13. Mathieu Bastareaud
12. Juan Martin Hernandez
11. Bryan Habana
10. Matt Giteau
9. Sebastien Tillous-Borde
1. Xavier Chiocci
2. Guilhem Guirado
3. Carl Hayman (capt.)
4. Bakkies Botha
5. Ali Williams
6. Juan Smith
7. Steffon Armitage
8. Chris Masoe
Replacements:
16. Jean-Charles Orioli
17. Alexandre Menini
18. Levan Chilachava
19. Juan Fernandez Lobbe
20. Virgile Bruni
21. Rudi Wulf
22. Frederic Michalak
23. Romain Taofifenua
Referee: Nigel Owens
Verdict: Clermont. Just.
- Originally published at 00.05, updated at 16.25.
This man is about to play his 5th European final in 5 straight seasons
Clermont look for first title against Toulon with Irish support behind them
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Champions Cup European Rugby Champions Cup final hurdle Clermont Toulon Toulon Twickenham