Toulon, who started the afternoon as second favourites (more so than underdogs), and looked dead and buried when Brock James’ touched down with 25 minutes to go. Morgan Parra, who had slotted a conversion from Napolioni Nalaga’s try, missed the extras and Clermont led 15-6.
Wilkinson made Clermont pay for seizing up and knocked over a penalty to make it 15-9 before Armitage — fortunate not to see yellow for an earlier high tackle on Aurélien Rougerie — broke clear and swan dived over. Wilkinson held his nerve with his 30m conversion to the left of the posts and Toulon hit the front.
Intense pressure followed in the closing stages but the red jerseys held firm.
Mathieu Bastareaud, who claimed the man of the match award, told Sky Sports, “We have a big defence and we knew that Clermont had started to panic. Every time this season that they have scored two tries, nobody has come close to them.” It was not the case at Lansdowne Road today.
Wilkinson was delighted with they way his team stuck together in the second half. He said, “It takes everything you’ve got to hang in there and, in the end, we just got that rub of the green.” Asked how much the cup triumph meant to him, the Englishman replied:
It’s been so long since we’ve won a cup… It’s all that I’ve got. This is my world now.”
Wilkinson added, “At 15-6 we said ‘It’s just one try boys and we’re back in this’. We got the penalty [first] and then Delon got the try.” The outhalf described Toulon’s cosmopolitan mix as ‘a bunch of guys from everywhere trying to bring something together and make it work’.”
Typical of a player with a huge work ethic, Wilkinson stated that winning the Top 14 title was the next task for his club. Only then may the nerveless place kicker contemplate joining up with the touring British & Irish Lions.
Ronan O’Gara was in the Sky Sports commentary studio at the ground. He reflected, “I’m stunned sitting here; it’s terrible [for Clermont]. I know they won’t be satisfied until next May and another European Cup Final to exorcise this ghosts.”
Toulon have already signed up Australian back Drew Mitchell and Springbok winger Bryan Habana for next season.”
"This is my world now" - Wilkinson revels in Heineken Cup success
AMID THE RAFT of rugby retirements, Toulon captain Jonny Wilkinson keeps going.
Today at the Aviva Stadium he kicked three penalties and the winning conversion, following a super Delon Armitage try, as his French club defeated Clermont Auvergne 16-15 to claim the Heineken Cup.
Toulon, who started the afternoon as second favourites (more so than underdogs), and looked dead and buried when Brock James’ touched down with 25 minutes to go. Morgan Parra, who had slotted a conversion from Napolioni Nalaga’s try, missed the extras and Clermont led 15-6.
Wilkinson made Clermont pay for seizing up and knocked over a penalty to make it 15-9 before Armitage — fortunate not to see yellow for an earlier high tackle on Aurélien Rougerie — broke clear and swan dived over. Wilkinson held his nerve with his 30m conversion to the left of the posts and Toulon hit the front.
Delon Armitage celebrates before touch down. (©INPHO/Colm O’Neill)
Intense pressure followed in the closing stages but the red jerseys held firm.
Mathieu Bastareaud, who claimed the man of the match award, told Sky Sports, “We have a big defence and we knew that Clermont had started to panic. Every time this season that they have scored two tries, nobody has come close to them.” It was not the case at Lansdowne Road today.
Wilkinson was delighted with they way his team stuck together in the second half. He said, “It takes everything you’ve got to hang in there and, in the end, we just got that rub of the green.” Asked how much the cup triumph meant to him, the Englishman replied:
Wilkinson added, “At 15-6 we said ‘It’s just one try boys and we’re back in this’. We got the penalty [first] and then Delon got the try.” The outhalf described Toulon’s cosmopolitan mix as ‘a bunch of guys from everywhere trying to bring something together and make it work’.”
Typical of a player with a huge work ethic, Wilkinson stated that winning the Top 14 title was the next task for his club. Only then may the nerveless place kicker contemplate joining up with the touring British & Irish Lions.
Ronan O’Gara was in the Sky Sports commentary studio at the ground. He reflected, “I’m stunned sitting here; it’s terrible [for Clermont]. I know they won’t be satisfied until next May and another European Cup Final to exorcise this ghosts.”
Toulon have already signed up Australian back Drew Mitchell and Springbok winger Bryan Habana for next season.”
As it happened: Clermont Auvergne v Toulon, Heineken Cup final
Ronan O’Gara’s incredible Munster career in 40 brilliant pictures
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European Rugby Champions Cup Delon Armitage French HCup jonny be good Jonny Wilkinson Lansdowne Road Mathieu Bastareaud Rugby Clermont Toulon