Toulouse crowned kings of France
Toulouse were crowned champions of France for the seventeenth time in Paris on Saturday following a stunning 26-20 victory over Clermont at the Stade de France.
Toulouse were crowned champions of France for the seventeenth time in Paris on Saturday following a stunning 26-20 victory over Clermont at the Stade de France.
The club from the south-west of France buried the memories of their Heineken Cup Final loss of six weeks ago in an enthralling encounter in the French capital that lived up at all expectations.
Clermont, who finished at the summit of the Top 14 table this season, went down to their ninth, and second consecutive, French championship Final loss as Toulouse took control of the tightly contested match in the last half-an-hour.
What a match!
No one could have asked for more. Okay, Clermont fans could have asked for more, but no one can deny that France's two best teams produced the best game the country, possibly the world, has seen so far this year.
Clermont coach Vern Cotter spoke of the maturity his team needed to win the game, and in retrospect one could argue that it was Toulouse's big match temperament that gave them the edge in front of 80,000 screaming fans as the momentum swung back and forth.
Toulouse's experienced heads – captain Jean Bouilhou, Fabien Pelous, Bryon Kelleher, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, William Servat and Yannick Jauzion – all produced monumental performances, worthy of the occasion. A special mention must go to Elissalde, who started the game with a rib injury and bravely played through 60 minutes of increasing pain to see his team past the final hurdle in a very, very long season.
With both teams packed full of world-class runners, it was Toulouse's edge in the set pieces, especially the line-outs where Bouilhou and Pelous reeked havoc, that gave them the advantage at vital times.
It was classic French rugby from start to finish as neither team lacked any passion or flair. Phrases like “vintage Toulouse” summed up a memorable night at a venue charged with emotion as tears flowed among both sets of players and supporters at the final whistle.
As expected, the match got off to an explosive start with both teams keen to run the ball, and the furious pace continued for the rest of the first half. There was no lack of physicality either (both Clermont locks and Servat were treated for bleeding injuries inside the first quarter) as massive hits flew in around the park.
Clermont's points machine, fly-half Brock James, opening the scoring after thirteen minutes to round of three or four minutes of pressure from the team in yellow in what had been a very evenly contested, cut and thrust opening spell.
Toulouse fought right back however, using their scrum to win back possession inside the Clermont 22. Scrum-half Kelleher made a trademark break and was stopped just short the Clermont line. Reinforcements were soon at hand and two phases later the former All Black fed Servat from close range and the veteran hook kept low at avoid a tackle from 6ft4in Aurélien Rougerie and crashed over for the first try of the game.
Clermont had been employing the tactic of kicking deep to Toulouse wing Yves Donguy in the hope a fumbled ball would fall for charging Fijian Napolioni Nalaga. Donguy was up to the challenge though, forcing a Clermont to try other tactics. The change came in the form of chips and grubbers from South African centre Marius Joubert – which caused the Toulouse back three all kinds of problems.
When a Joubert chip floated into the Toulouse in-goal area full-back Maxime Médard and prop Daan Human where both on hand to cover, but fumbled the ball, and where unable to get a hand to it before Rougerie who came diving in behind them. At least that's what the TMO decided in what was a very difficult call.
True to form Toulouse replied with some scintillating running. Elissalde missed the first of two attempted drop goals put then slotted a penalty to even the scores at 10-all.
The first half ended all square, and rightly so as there was nothing to separate the teams.
The second period saw both teams employ more tactical kicking, but the action was still fast and furious. Another Elissalde penalty at the 55 minute mark moved Toulouse into the lead as a number of mistakes from Clermont suggested the pressure was getting to them.
Three time European Champions Toulouse then started to turn the screw with some flawless phase play, running with pace and off-loading at the last minute to put last year's losing finalists on the back foot.
And on the back foot they would remain.
When M̩dard cross the Clermont line with a little more than 20 minutes to play to score one of the tries of the season, the writing was on the wall for les Jaunards. Toulouse replacement loose forward Finau Maka had started the move inside his own 22, and when Donguy sucked in four defenders before passing to M̩dard, who stepped inside to finish it all off, the entire crowd were on their feet Рincluding the Planet Rugby team.
At 20 -10, Clermont needed something special, but they weren't going to get any gifts from the Toulouse forwards who started to hang onto the ball more and more. James kicked a penalty with ten minutes to go, only to see Maleli Kunavore kick one of his own directly afterwards. Valentin Courrent, who made a rare appearance for the les Toulousains in the dying minutes, added another to put the game out of Clermont's reach.
With time up on the clock and a few Toulouse players already starting the celebrations, Clermont prop Davit Zirakashvili went over in the corner to close the gap. James converted, but it was too little to late. There are non bonus points in finals, only winners and losers – Clermont should know, and by the looks on their faces, they didn't need reminding.
26-20 it ended then as Pelous and Bouilhou lifted the Bouclier de Brennus for the third time each. Long live French flair!
Man of the match: Bouilhou was fantastic. Clermont relentlessly attacked the lightweight and injured Elissalde, who deserves his holiday after a brave performance. But Byron Kelleher earned more than just his pay cheque. The Kiwi was omnipresent, made some excellent line-breaks and not a single mistake.
Moment of the match: Médard's try was the killer blow to Clermont's ambitions as Toulouse were able to shut the game down thereafter, but Jean-Baptiste Elissalde's last minute selection by Guy Novès proved to be the most influential move of the weekend.
Villain of the match: Villain? Heroes all around.
The Scorers
For Clermont:
Tries: Rougerie, Zirakashvili
Cons: James 2
Pens: James 2
For Toulouse:
Tries: Servat, Médard
Cons: Elissalde 2
Pens: Elissalde 2, Kunavore, Courrent
Clermont: 15 Benoît Baby, 14 Aurélien Rougerie (c), 13 Gonzalo Canale, 12 Marius Joubert, 11 Napolioni Nalaga , 10 Brock James, 9 Pierre Mignoni, 8 Elvis Vermeulen, 7 Alexandre Audebert, 6 Julien Bonnaire, 5 Jamie