It’s the last Heineken Cup Final – but thankfully not the
last European final – but certainly not the least. The near 20 years of
European joy provided by the Heineken Cup comes to an end today but we have as
fitting a final as ever today to see it off as last year’s winners Toulon face
off against Premiership finalists Saracens at the Millenium stadium.
A repeat of last year’s semi final - which was billed as a
Lions battle between Owen Farrell and Johnny Wilkinson – ended in limp fashion
with Toulon taking a comprehensive victory as the younger playmaker had a poor
game as Saracens disappointed, and we now come here with Farrell the undisputed
number 1 for England and Wilkinson stepping down after one of the all time
great careers in the spotlight, in what could be his last major final. The
young start v the outgoing great; Two of the new dominant forces of European
club rugby slugging it out for the biggest prize on continent.
Farrell, and to a lesser extent Saracens, let themselves
down last year, hut in the interim, much has changed. Losers in the semi finals
of both the Heineken Cup and Premiership last season, they are now in both
finals, having come from behind to eventually run out very ready winners
against Northampton in their semi final – having won the normal season by 11
points (they were just 2 clear at the end of last season, after which they fell
to Northampton), an achievement almost as impressive as their 46-6 destruction
of Clermont in the semi final as Wembley.
Toulon are seen – correctly – as the money club in Europe
but the considerable additions of James Johnston, Marclo Bosch, and Billy
Vunipola has gone a long way to improving the team’s dynamism, evidenced by a
more refreshing style of play, deeply impressive performances, and a top points
scoring tally in the Premiership of 629 – and average of nearly 30 a game.
However the mentality that earned them the defensive tag is
still there – just worn with far more pride. Jacques Burger’s phenomenal
performance in the semi final with 27 tackles in 69 minutes, was not the only
exceptional shift but underlines the power in their ranks key to stopping the
French giants.
And those giants will take some serious stopping. Toulon
were sticky in the first half of the season but since the turn of the year,
have found the kind of strides that one would expect from such an expensively
built squad and blew away Leinster on home turf before pushing past Munster in
Marsellie where they had to make harder work of things but were never in
serious danger.
They can be expensive – how many teams can boast a backline
with Wilkinson, Mitchell, Habana and Bastareud – but their main reserve is
power from all avenues with Botha, Hayman, Arimtage, Lobbe, and Bastareud in
attendance. Toulon won the meeting between these two by 12 points but the
margin could and should have been a lot tighter and I’d wager that one score
will take this either way.
Advice
1 pt Saracens to win by 1-15 points (9/2 general)
1 pt Toulon to win by 1-5 points (9/2 general)
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