Aviva Premiership Final Review - Leicester Tigers 37 - 17 Northampton Saints

Inevitability is a word that you don’t often associate with sport – part of its beauty and appeal which keeps crowds coming back over and over again is the fact that you can never be 100% sure what will happen.  Just ask the All Blacks about every world cup between 1987 and 2011 when they were expected to cruise through the tournaments, Manchester City about their ability to win the FA Cup against the (mighty) Wigan or any amateur golfer about how much of a ‘gimme’ a 3 foot putt is.  Yes, the constant threat of the unexpected is a real draw card within life, but that doesn’t stop there from being some pretty solid ‘bankers’ floating around, and two of these are in the Premiership.

The first one would be that Leicester Tigers will be contesting in another Premiership Final – the fact that their game on Saturday was the 9^th Final on the bounce is an indication of the phenomenal consistency they have at the club.  Despite playing some pretty mediocre stuff throughout the majority of the season, the Tigers know how to keep winning games and how to turn it on when it matters.  The second ‘sure thing’ would be that any game between Leicester and Northampton will have at least one flashpoint.  Northampton have had a pretty topsy-turvy season but are the only side in England who can at least match, if not out-gun, Leicester’s power game – and it’s that, along with the fierce local rivalry, which inevitably leads to non-rugby talking points for days or weeks to come. 

Little did fans of either side know that the daddy of all flashpoints would be taking place on English club rugby’s biggest stage on Saturday.  The opening was cagey and full of errors – a Tom Youngs skewed throw, an early engagement from the Saints pack – with both sides striving for a foothold in a highly charged atmosphere.  And it was the Tigers who struck first following a smart offload from Allen and even smarter footwork from Mat Tait, giving Leicester front foot ball which forced an offside from the Saints backline.  Captain Toby Flood nailed the 3 pointer and then, 3 minutes later, played an integral part in the opening try of the game, flipping a beautiful inside ball to Nikki Goneva for the initial break before drawing Foden and floating a gorgeous pass out wide to Niall Morris, who strolled over on the right.  Flood converted to make it a fine 5 minutes for the England fly half. 

In the crowd, Leicester fans took a breath, and that fear of going behind early seemed to have dissipated – but this was no time to relax, as Saints demonstrated with a fine try of their own 5 minutes later.  Jamie Elliot was hauled down by Manu Tuilagi, who then tried to get his hands on the ball; although the England centre may have technically removed his hands before going back in, it was nowhere near clear enough, and Wayne Barnes correctly gave the penalty.  Lee Dickson quickly took the penalty and shipped the ball to Stephen Myler via Luther Burrell, and the Northampton 10 finished well under pressure from Tait to score on the left.   He couldn’t add the extras from out wide, but a warning shot had been sounded.

But if that was a warning shot, the full-on volley was unleashed after 20 minutes when Courtney Lawes cut Flood in half with, in my opinion, a fair hit – but it was one of those borderline situations where the second row launched himself as the fly half was passing the ball. The decision was given for a penalty, but the real damage had been done – the England fly half took the not-unsizeable knee of Dan Cole to the head on the way down, leaving him concussed.  What was disappointing to see though was coach Richard Cockerill venting his views to the fourth official – his desire and passion to protect his star players was understandable, as was his justifiable frustration that, since a penalty had been (wrongly) given, no yellow card had been issued, but there has to be a better avenue for him to complain than setting that poor example.

Ben Youngs stepped up to take his first kick in 3 years for the club infront of 82,000 people and hooked it to the left, before Flood got crunched by Lawes again and had to leave the field looking very groggy.  If Flood was shaken, Leicester were rattled, and the game was brewing nicely in terms of free flowing rugby, with Northampton going close twice through Dickson and Ken Pisi, sandwiching a 70 metre break by Tait that led to another 3 pointer for the Tigers – this time converted by substitute George Ford.

Flood leaving the field was a potentially game changing moment, but another came around swiftly after, as Ben Foden – lively all game – took an offload from Jamie Elliot and went over on the left, only for a sensational cover tackle by Graham Kitchener to deny him, with the big lock getting himself underneath the ball.  The full back’s feet went out before he managed to wrestle the ball down, and a 22-metre drop out was given – much to the confusion and anger of the Saints players.  And it was this which, in my opinion, set in motion the chain of events that unfortunately defined the game.

Firstly, a frustrated Dylan Hartley was warned for abusive backchat by Wayne Barnes at a scrum, before a missed subsequent penalty by George Ford gave Northampton a 22 metre drop out.  Then came the first moment of utter stupidity, with Stephen Myler kicking the ball straight out from the restart.  Wayne Barnes could be heard saying “You can’t kick it straight out but yes, it’s time” (indicating that time for the half was up) prior to the kick – but even if the Saints players had misheard (thinking Barnes said “can” instead of “can’t”) it is a player’s responsibility to know the rules of the game.  If Myler didn’t know that he couldn’t kick it straight out, unfortunately that is his fault.  It gave Leicester a scrum on the 22 metre line from which Dan Cole and Logovi’i Mulipola drove through the Saints pack and won a penalty, leaving a fuming Dylan Hartley to get up and say the words “F*cking cheat” to Barnes.  A red card was brandished despite the fact the Hartley claimed he was talking to Tom Youngs – but this was still completely mindless in two ways.  Firstly, replays showed Hartley looking at Barnes, not Youngs (on the floor), when he said the words; and secondly, even if they had been directed at Youngs, he had just been warned about using abusive language that could be interpreted by Barnes to be directed at him.  To run that risk by launching an insult at Youngs would be just as brain-dead as insulting the referee himself. 

Ford, converted the penalty to give the Tigers a 16 – 5 halftime lead, but the incident had left a nasty taste in the mouth and given a fixture that rarely needs extra drama some added controversy.  Some sides would have wallowed in self pity and imploded – but Northampton are made of sterner stuff.  They came out with added verve and purpose in the second half, with Foden looking especially dangerous, and they got a deserved reward just 3 minutes into the new period.  A beautiful Christian Day offload and a superbly timed pass from substitute hooker Mike Haywood allowed Myler space to ship the ball via George Wilson to Foden, who this time was not to be denied in the left hand corner.  Myler missed the conversion again, but the 14-man side were right back in the game.

Leicester responded the way they know best – with power.  Dan Cole destroyed Soane Tonga’uiha in a Northampton scrum and the pressure led to a loose ball which was gloriously scooped up by Anthony Allen, before Graham Kitchener got his large mitts on the pill and galloped through a gap on the blindside to score on the right.   Ford fluffed his kick, but made amends with a simple penalty following his excellent break which almost resulted in another try – and may well have done if he’d backed himself and gone for the line instead of looking for support.  The Leicester fans seemed to relax in the sense that the game was out of Northampton’s reach – but how wrong they were.

A scuffed kick from Ben Youngs gave Foden a chance to counter, and the full back danced through the Tigers’ defence to give the Saints front foot ball.  Jordan Crane then somehow managed to trip himself over and leave a huge gap in the midfield which Luther Burrell powered through before flicking a delightful offload up to Dickson, who gathered expertly off his boot straps to bring Northampton within 7 points, following Myler’s conversion.  Game on.

With 25 minutes to go, Northampton had the ascendency and were playing the better rugby, but it couldn’t last.  Despite throwing everything at Leicester, Saints eventually ran themselves into the ground.  Taking advantage of a tiring defence, Manu Tuilagi crashed through Tom Woods’ challenge to race home from 50 metres on 65 minutes, before substitute Steve Mafi put the icing on the cake with a gorgeous basketball-style offload to put Niki Goneva in for a try.  It was game over – Leicester were deserved winners by 37-17 and, by putting their name on the trophy that they last won in 2010, they made it a record 10 English Championships overall.

This final was another classic that was packed to the brim with speed, power and skill, but it’s one that will unfortunately be remembered for a moment of stupidity rather than the many moments of brilliance.  That the likes of Flood’s pass for Morris’ try or Dickson’s pick up for Northampton’s third will be a secondary thought to the moronic actions of one man is a sad indication of the press coverage these occasions receive, but it should not mask what overall was fantastic occasion.

So the curtain comes down on another season of Premiership rugby, and so to on the East Midland club careers of Brian Mujati, Soane Tonga’uiha, Martin Castrogiovanni and Geordan Murphy – but it’s just another dramatic chapter in the history of Leicester-Northampton games.  And I already can’t wait to see the next instalment.

Leicester Player Ratings

Mat Tait – 8 – Superb break in the first half and some lovely footwork throughout, just not quite as involved as he would have liked to have been in the second half.
Niall Morris – 7 – Well finished for Tigers’ first try, but was then fairly quiet.  Solid presence though.
Manu Tuilagi – 7 – You just can’t keep him down.  Even when you think he’s having one of his quiet days at the office, he then goes and strolls through a tackle to score a game sealing try.
Anthony Allen – 8 – An absolute rock.  Made the right decisions throughout and tackled anything that moved.  The glue that holds the Leicester backline together.
Niki Goneva – 7 – Magical running in the first half and a deserved try late on, needs to keep working on his ball retention and security though.
Toby Flood – 7 – Was looking in fine fettle before an injury forced him off, kicking well and passing beautifully for the opening try.
Ben Youngs – 6 – Some very sharp service but there were few gaps for him to exploit, and a couple of iffy kicks handed decent ball to the opposition
Logovi’i Mulipola – 7 – Very strong work in the scrum where he held his own, maybe even got the upper hand, against Brian Mujati.   Not as prominent in the loose as usual though.
Tom Youngs – 6 – Exceptional around the park, particularly on the carry, but had a bit of a dodgy day with his lineout throws.  Will hope that’s the last set of clangers for the season.
Dan Cole – 8 – He’ll probably be one of the few opposition props to miss Soane Tonga’uiha.  Has a great record in the set piece against him and continued that dominance in the final – a major blow to the Saints’ cause.
Graham Kitchener – 9 – A magnificent display from the underrated lock.  Carried hard all game, worked well in the lineout, made a superb try saving tackle on Ben Foden and scored a great try.  Not bad for a second row.  Man of the Match.
Geoff Parling – 6 – A solid, if unspectacular showing, from the Lion.  I’d question some of his lineout calls (making Youngs go to the back on his first throw) but did his usual grunt work around the pitch.
Tom Croft – 7 – Superb in the lineout and in defence as usual, but was surprisingly invisible in attack when compared to his heroics a fortnight ago.
Julian Salvi – 7 – A quietly effective game, making a nuisance of himself at ruck time and making countless tackles
Jordan Crane – 7 – Confirmed his renaissance this season with a powerful and intelligent display, building momentum when his team required it.

Subs

Rob Hawkins – Not enough time to make an impact
Fraser Balmain – Not enough time to make an impact
Martin Castrogiovanni – Not enough time to make an impact
Ed Slater – 7 – What a season this guy has had.  Unlucky to be injured in the month leading up to the final, but made a statement straight away with a couple of bruising carries.
Steve Mafi – 7 – Not on for long but a lovely assist to finish the game.
Sam Harrison – Not enough time to make an impact
George Ford – 5 – Not particularly impressive.  Kicking was poor and was he often looked slow and indecisive with his distribution.
Matt Smith – Not enough time to make an impact

 

Northampton Player Ratings

Ben Foden – 8 – A wonderful return to form.  Sharp on the counter attack, the full back scored one and set up another.   Probably just shaded his battle with Tait, but both looked in excellent nick.
Ken Pisi – 5 – Did nothing wrong, but didn’t get into any positions to show off his speed or footwork.  Was well marshalled.
James Wilson – 7 – Another solid display from a player who offers something different George Pisi.  Reliable in defence and big with the boot, is proving his worth as a tactical centre.
Luther Burrell – 8 – What a fine inside centre this guy has become.  Some bruising carries and a couple of deft offloads and passes really stood him out.  Hopefully Mallinder will give him more of a run in the side next year.
Jamie Elliot – 6 – Looked good on the rare occasions he had the ball but was shackled pretty well throughout, before being sacrificed for a hooker replacement.
Stephen Myler – 6 – Distributed well but missed some difficult kicks that would have brought Saints even closer to the Tigers.  Finished well for his try but also messed up that critical restart.
Lee Dickson – 8 – A very sharp display.  A smart tap and go set up a try for Myler and a wonderful pick up earned him a deserved 5 pointer.
Soane Tonga’uiha – 5 – Came a very obvious second best in the scrum and didn’t make any noticeable dents in the loose.  Not the way he would have wished to have bowed out.
Dylan Hartley – 3 – Score halved because of his stupidity.  Regardless of whether or not he did direct his words to Barnes, he shouldn’t have opened his trap at all after the warning he’d been given.  I feel gutted for him though – one moment of madness has cost his side a shot at the Premiership title and a Lions Tour.
Brian Mujati – 5 – Well taken care of by Mulipola and we didn’t hear too many cries of “Muuj” in open play either – an indicator of his involvement.
Courtney Lawes – 7 – Biggest impacts were his hits on Flood...but what impacts!  Harshly penalised for one but a good reminder of his talents nonetheless.  Not much with ball in hand though.
Christian Day – 8 – Very strong display.  Worked well in the lineout and was a nuisance in the loose, showing lovely offloading skills for Foden’s try.
Phil Dowson – 6 – A quiet but workmanlike display from the blindside.  Showed good foraging ability at the back of the lineout and worked well as a linkman as well.
Tom Wood – 7 – A solid display from this summer’s England captain.  Was superb in defence and made a mess of Leicester ball more than once – although he did miss the key tackle on Tuilagi as he tired after running himself into the ground.
Samu Manoa – 6 – Really quiet compared to the previous week.  Didn’t see him obliterate anyone or get his hands on the ball enough to make a real impact.

Subs

Mike Haywood – 7 – A strong performance by the young hooker.  Came on in difficult circumstances but acquitted himself really well in the loose, despite a couple of wobbles on the throw.

Alex Waller – 5 – Could not stem the powerful surges from the Leicester pack up front.
Tom Mercey – 5 – Like his fellow replacement prop, looked shaky in the set piece but brought energy to the Saints game.
Ben Nutley – Not enough time to make an impact
GJ van Velze – 6 – Aggressive and powerful presence when he came on, looking to inject thrust at every opportunity.
Martin Roberts – Not enough time to make an impact
Ryan Lamb– Not enough time to make an impact
George Pisi – Not enough time to make an impact

Aviva Premiership Final Preview - Leicester Tigers v Northampton Saints

East Midland derbies are always special.  Nothing gets the blood simmering nicely than a full-on scrap with your neighbours – and we've seen blood levels reach boiling point on several occasions in the match ups between Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints.  I mean, some teams in rugby like to give each other a good shoeing every now and again, but I mean these two really hate each other – you'd be more likely to see Luis Suarez and Branislav Ivanovic in a civil partnership than see these two taking it easy with each other on the field.  I say hate in a strictly "professional-rugby" sense of the word of course, but with a soap-opera style list of incidents – Manu Tuilagi's attack on Chris Ashton, Ashton's hair pulling on Alesana Tuilagi and Calum Clarke's assault on Rob Hawkins – you do begin to wander if there is something more sinister under the surface.

Of course, the reality is that the above incidents are all just over-zealous actions (although Clarke's was a little harder to justify) resulting from the deep-rooted competitiveness between these 2 when somebody pulls on a Leicester or Northampton shirt.  These two great clubs are steeped in tradition and have two of the biggest and loudest fanbases in the country – if it was atmosphere, passion and entertainment the neutral wanted in the Premiership final this year, they've got it.  With Leicester looking unplayable in their second half against Harlequins and Saints bringing new meaning to the word "Oomph" against Saracens in the semis, the storm is well and truly brewing.

The Tigers have made their annual pilgrimage down to west London with almost mundane impressiveness – it is no longer to see a Leicester side picking up wins but looking ordinary throughout the bulk of the season before really turning it on in the home straight.  Perhaps that has something to do with having their international players around for a decent period of time for once, or perhaps it that clinical ruthlessness is now just embedded now into the fabric of this team – it certainly seems that way, to a point.  I say to a point because the 'fact of the week' has been Leicester's sub-par record in Premiership finals – despite this being their 9th on the bounce, they have only won 3 previously.  I blame myself in part/entirely for that, as my record of watching Leicester at Twickenham stands at 8 matches seen, 1 Tigers win – essentially every time (since 1997) I haven't been to HQ, Leicester have won.  Northampton fans will be delighted to hear that I will be in attendance on Saturday.

Leicester's biggest enemy on Saturday will be themselves – and I say that without doing Northampton any disservice.  The Tigers will know that they have the better side on paper – and on record, with 7 consecutive wins against their rivals – but after seeing Northampton crush Saracens the way they did in their semi-final, there must be some fear in the back of the players' minds of falling at the final hurdle once more.

And maybe they have good reason to be afraid – my reaction when faced with a pack sporting the likes of Courtney Lawes, Brian Mujati, Soane Tonga'uiha and Samu Manoa would be to cry and adopt the foetal position on the floor.  Luckily, for the paying public, Leicester will be made of sterner stuff but that doesn't change the fact that this Saints pack can bring a frankly staggering level of physicality to the party.  As probably the only side who can out-muscle the Tigers in an arm wrestle, Saints pride themselves on their set piece and aggression in defence – and it was these qualities that were at the forefront of their dismantling of Saracens in the semi-final.  But there is more to this side than just raw power – Ken Pisi has twinkle toes, Jamie Elliot is a great little finisher and we all know what Ben Foden can do on his day – but the key for Northampton on Saturday will be to keep themselves calm and focussed, and not let the unique occasion get in their way.

That, of course, is far easier said than done, especially when you consider some of the firecracker match ups across the park, with the outcome of Tom Youngs v Hartley, Parling v Day, Crane v Manoa and Ben Youngs v Dickson all capable of changing the course of the game.  I can see the set piece being a key area – after taking apart the country's best lineout (Saracens) last week, Christian Day will want to get stuck into Tom Youngs' throw whilst Northampton will fancy their chances in the scrum with the withdrawal of Marcos Ayerza.  That said, the last time these 2 met – a 36-8 drubbing  for the home side at Franklin's Gardens – Leicester were all over the hosts' set piece and will need to ensure they are just as tenacious this time round.  Away from the stodgy stuff, the underdogs' back row will be trying to blast Leicesters' runners back in the tackle to slow the ball down and force Youngs and Flood to play on the back foot – if they fail to manage that, then they'll be giving the most creative attacking duo in the league free reign on fast, fornt foot ball.  And that's bound to be dangerous as it's out wide that the Tigers hold the real advantage, with the centre pairing of Manu Tuilagi and Anthony Allen in particular having vastly more experience than the Saints pair of Luther Burrell and George Wilson. 

But all this talk of game plan will fly clean out of the window when these 2 emerge from the tunnels on Saturday afternoon.  After all, this is just another brawl; another East Midlands derby.  It's just that this time, it's on a slightly bigger stage.  And with even more at stake.

Leicester Team News

Leicester go into their ninth successive Premiership final with the same starting XV that eased past Harlequins in the semi-finals.  Toby Flood will captain the side as Tigers look to win an unparalleled 10th English crown.

Starting Line up: Tait; Morris, Tuilagi, Allen, Goneva; Flood (capt), Ben Youngs; Mulipola, Tom Youngs, Cole; Kitchener, Parling; Croft, Salvi, Crane.

Subs: Hawkins, Balmain, Castrogiovanni, Slater, Mafi, Harrison, Ford, Smith.

Key Player

Manu Tuilagi.  Some people claimed that Tuilagi had a quiet game against Harlequins, but I disagree – unless by "quiet game" they mean "not obliterating somebody every 5 minutes".  I thought the semi-final was actually one of his most mature performances – he hit countless rucks and was rock solid in defence, despite the fact he must have been frustrated at not getting his hands on the ball as much as he would have liked.  That said, the first time he did get the ball in space he set up a try, which just goes to show that Leicester need to get him the ball more often.  Generally speaking, the more times a commentator mentions Tuilagi's name (as long as it’s not used in conjunction with "Chris Ashton"), the more effective the Tigers are at getting across that gainline and giving fast, clean, front-foot ball for Youngs and Flood to exploit – but, more importantly, the more likely they are to score a try out of nothing.  Manu has the X Factor alright, but he needs to make sure he really hunts for the ball on Saturday.

Northampton Team News

Northampton make one change to the team that shocked Saracens at Allianz Park, bringing in Phil Dowson at openside flanker for the injured Callum Clark, whilst  George Pisi returns to the bench after missing the semi-final triumph.

Starting Line up: Foden; Ken Pisi, Wilson, Burrell, Elliott; Myler, Dickson; Tonga'uiha, Hartley (capt), Mujati; Lawes, Day; Dowson, Wood, Manoa.

Subs: Haywood, Waller, Mercey, Nutley, Van Velze, Roberts, Lamb, George Pisi.

Key Player

Samu Manoa.  Epic does not really do justice to his display against Saracens.  I gave him a 9 out of 10 but on reflection that may have been harsh – the superbly-named, big American was everywhere, smashing back opposition runners at every opportunity and carrying to great effect, whilst showcasing his useful offloading skills.  Leicester's game hinges on the 2 halfbacks creating havoc around the fringes and in the inside channels before shipping the ball wide, so the Saints backrow – and Manoa in particular – will have to shut those options down and pile the pressure onto Youngs and Flood.  They know that, on the front foot, these 2 can rip them apart but, under pressure, they can crumble.

Key Battle

Logovi'i Mulipola v Brian Mujati.  Although a lot of the pre-match focus has been on the All-Lions match up at hooker, I think the scrap between the 2 props is key.  Marcos Ayerza is a huge loss for Leicester – the Argentinian is one of the best looseheads playing in Europe in my view – but Mulipola has done a great job filling in.  Primarily a tighthead, the Samoan prop is a real handful around the park and has acquitted himself well in the set piece, but his battle in the scrum against the bulldozing Brian Mujati will be another test all together.  After a blockbusting display against Saracens, "Mooj" will be licking his lips at the prospect of getting stuck into another powerful but perhaps-not-technically-perfect loosehead.  If Saints want to impose their power game then they need to start in the set piece, which means Mujati has to target and get underneath Mulipola – and, with Cole and Tonga'uiha's battle probably staying just about even, the battle between Mulipola and Mujati becomes absolutely critical.  If the Leicester pack starts going backwards then, like Saracens, doubt will start to creep in – but if the Tigers hold their own, then one of the Saints' chief attacking weapons will have been nullified.

Prediction

This was the final the neutral was probably hoping for and to say it should be explosive is like saying that the Lions tour is "kind of a big deal".  Leicester have all the experience but their Twickenham hoodoo will perhaps be lurking in the back of their minds – if they go behind at any stage, even due to a lucky try – they have to fight back that natural urge to think "Oh crap, here we go again", because, on paper, they have the stronger side.  Saints will be buoyed by self-belief after thumping Saracens and will relish the underdog tag – they'll be coming out with a brutal physicality.  Despite the hiding they received from the Tigers 6 weeks ago the mindset will be very different amongst the teams and I can see this one going right down to the wire, and I genuinely believe the tipping point may be the scrum.  Dan Cole enjoys scrummaging against Soane Tonga'uiha but if Munipola can't hold his side up against Mujati then the set piece will crumble.  If Leicester achieve at least parity, I think they'll win – otherwise it could be a real scrap.  I can't see the Tigers falling at the final hurdle for a third time, so I'm going to lean towards the favourites.  Tigers by 4.
 

Super XV Big Match Preview - Chiefs v Crusaders

One of the ‘in’ things to talk about when you have a match between 2 big teams is that it’s a “clash of the heavyweights”, and that’s one of those things that really annoys me.  Perhaps I’m too easily wound up, but I associate heavyweight boxing with slow, lumbering marathons between two behemoths too scared to actually attack each other in case the other manages to land a ham-sized fist in their chops whilst they’re having a go.  Sure, the knockouts may be spectacular but these days you’ve got more chance of finding a member of the EDL with a degree than seeing someone hit the canvas.  Me, I always prefer the middleweight categories.  There’s still enough power in there for the odd haymaker to go flying but these guys go for the jugular, jabbing and moving quickly before exploding in with the punches at the sight of half an opening.  And that’s why Chiefs v Crusaders is not a heavyweight clash, but a middleweight one.

On Friday night we’ll be treated to 2 backlines with enough fire power to shred almost any defence to pieces and a pair of packs with the brute force, mobility and sleight of hand to turn this game into an absolute firecracker.  Sure, the Chiefs have been a bit lacklustre of late, but they know how to turn it on when they need to.  At the moment they still seem to be playing in just 20 minute bursts, looking both unplayable and ordinary in the same half, and it’s meant they’ve not been able to pull away from teams when they should.  Last week, they exploded out of the blocks after the halftime break but couldn’t fully dispose of the Hurricanes, who pushed them all the way.  Perhaps they’ve started believing their own hype?  Possibly, but this talented side will need to be at its most professional and clinical if it’s going to defeat the returning-All Black inspired visitors.

The Crusaders have been bolstered of late by the returns of Zac Guilford, Dan Carter and Kieran Read from rehab, wedding leave and injury respectively (quite a list), and the experience of these men is vital to how the New Zealanders play.  Every forward needs to be able to pass like a back and hit lines because the Crusaders play such a fast, wide game with powerful runners all over the park, but they need the guys with real intelligence and leadership, like Carter and Read, to dictate where the attack will focus.  When it clicks, it’s almost as good to watch as it is horrible to play against – in the Blues game last week, there were moments when it was like watching the great Crusaders team of 5 years ago.  As a neutral, you hope that side shows up again.

It should be some battle.  Expect plenty of speed, dodging, jabbing...and maybe even a knockout – they’ll both be coming out swinging.

Chiefs Team News

The Chiefs have made five changes to the match day 22 with two in the starting line up and three in the replacements.  Ben Tameifuna comes in at prop for Ben Afeaki who is out this week with a calf strain and Patrick Osborne starts on the wing.  Toby Smith, Sam Cane and Lelia Masaga move back onto the replacements bench.  Bay of Plenty midfielder Kenny Lynn has been bought into the squad as midfield cover after injuries to Richard Kahui, Tim Nanai-Williams and Andrew Horrell .

Starting Line up: Robbie Robinson; Patrick Osborne, Charlie Ngatai, Bundee Aki, Asaeli Tikoirotuma; Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Matt Vant Leven, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam; Brodie Retallick, Craig Clarke (captain); Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Pauliasi Manu.

Subs: Mahonri Schwalger, Toby Smith, Michael Fitzgerald, Sam Cane, Augustine Pulu, Dan Waenga, Lelia Masaga.

Key Player

Liam Messam.  The big flanker so laid back he’s horizontal off the field, but on it he is bundle of monstrous energy, aggression and industry.  With a huge work rate to complement his powerful frame, he is probably the best New Zealander around and riding tackles, attracting defenders and looking for the offload.  The back row battle will be extra critical in this one with 2 fly halves who love front foot ball, and Messam will lead the charge against Read’s men.  But the Chiefs’ 6 probably has the edge on the ball carrying front and will need to be as involved as possible if this aggressive Crusaders defence is to be shunted backwards.

Crusaders Team News

Israel Dagg returns to the starting line up at fullback moving Tom Taylor into the number 12 jersey and Ryan Crotty to Centre while Robbie Fruean moves to the bench.  Corey Flynn has been ruled out with a hamstring injury and Ben Funnell has been bracketed so hooker Codie Taylor makes the starting fifteen.  Owen Franks has also been a late withdrawal and his place in the front row is taken by Nepo Laulala.  Former New Zealand Under 20 Winger Telusa Veianu comes on to the replacements bench.

Starting Line up: Israel Dagg; Tom Marshall, Ryan Crotty, Tom Taylor, Zac Guildford; Dan Carter, Andy Ellis; Kieran Read (captain), Matt Todd, George Whitelock; Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano; 3. Nepo Laulala, Code Taylor, Wyatt Crockett.

Subs: Ben Funnell /Laurence Corlett, Joe Moody, Dominic Bird, Luke Whitelock, Willi Heinz, Robbie Fruean, Telusa Veianu.

Key Player

Kieran Read.  You cannot underestimate the importance of this bloke.  Despite looking like he’d be right at home on a tractor, his physicality and intelligence on the rugby field make him a go-to figure for the visitors.  Since he returned a couple of weeks ago, we’ve seen the Crusaders speed of ball retention increase dramatically, and half of the reason for that is the fact that Read gets his hands on the ball so often. He knows went to truck it up himself, when to shift the point of attack, when to stay deeper and when to hit a ball at pace.  His ability to dictate play as a second receiver is fundamental to the Crusaders’ game plan.

Key Battle

Aaron Cruden v Dan Carter.  The physical war that will be waged between Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick will be explosive, but it’s hard to look past the battle between the 2 All Black 10s.  With Carter having taken a leave of absence to get married, Cruden has pressed his claims to topple the New Zealand great and earn that elusive first-choice spot and there are many in New Zealand who would say that he’s earned it.  But Carter just has that bit more to his game, with the acceleration, eye for a gap and offloading ability of a world class inside centre, and it’s that physical threat that stands him out above other flyhalves.  The Chiefs will have to use the power-packed 8 to get on top of the visiting pack or else Carter will have front foot ball from which to pick up out his runners, whilst the Crusaders backline will need to rush up and cut Cruden’s options down quickly, or risk letting arguably the best passer of the ball in Super Rugby wreak havoc out wide.

Prediction

The Chiefs seem to have been winning games without particularly impressing of late but that’s not a particularly bad habit to have, especially when faced with a must win game against the Crusaders.  The Canterbury outfit look very decent with Read back in the side but it is difficult to see them finding that extra level they’ll need to topple the Chiefs in Hamilton.  Chiefs by 7.

 

Who else will be taking the points in Super Rugby this weekend?

Rebels v Waratahs:  The Rebels claimed a great win over the Stormers last week and are always a tricky prospect at home, but the Tahs are on a hot streak and, as long as they’re not complacent, they should pick up the win.  Waratahs by 6.

Blues v Brumbies:  Both these sides were humbled away from home last weekend, and the Brumbies really need a win to stop a real doubt that their season is off the tracks from creeping in.  The Blues at home have been very strong though this season – I reckon they’ll edge a really close one.  Blues by 2.

Force v Highlanders:  Two of this season’s strugglers go head to head in a basement battle after suffering defeat last weekend.  On paper, the Highlanders should be the better side but the Force are still a nuisance in Perth.  This will be another close one but I’m going to bite the bullet and go for an away win.  Highlanders by 3.

Kings v Cheetahs:  The Kings are a confusing side, wet one week and hard as nails the next, whilst the Cheetahs have been impressive all year, playing with an attacking verve we haven’t seen before.  Surely they should dismiss any challenge from the Kings?  Cheetahs by 15.

Stormers v Reds:  The Reds missed out on an opportunity to go top of the Australian conference by slipping to surprise defeat to the Cheetahs – they need to get their South African tour back on track if they’re to keep the rampaging Waratahs off their tails.  The Stormers need a pick up themselves after a disappointing tour, but I think we’ll see the Reds more hungry for this – Reds by 5.

Sharks v Bulls:  It seems like ages since the Sharks got to play a home match and it will be interesting to see how they perform after breaking their losing streak last week.  But the Bulls are looking dangerous once again and won’t be easy meat – that said, I’m going to go for a surprise home win.  Sharks by 4.

Super XV Big Match Review - Waratahs 28 - 22 Brumbies

Momentum is an odd concept.  Teams talk about it with reverent passion when approaching the end of season playoffs or a big tournament, but it's a bit unclear what momentum actually entails.  Is it just picking up the wins and 'getting the ball rolling' or is it dominant performances, and how many matches do you have to go through in this way before you can claim to have 'momentum'?   Then there's the fact that, despite yearning all for it all season, once you do have momentum then any slip up will mean you come down to earth even harder than usual.  Think of Leicester's devastating loss to Harlequins in the final last year after 9 consecutive wins, or John Goodman tripping up whilst 'sprinting' down a hill.  Ouch.

For the Waratahs, 'momentum' is now the hottest word in New South Wales.  Before their match against the Brumbies in Sydney on Saturday, all the talk was that they had won their last 2 games, and 3 out of their last 4, but they needed a big W against the Aussie Conference leaders to really make the breakthrough statement that fans of Tahs so desperately want.  A win would throw them right into the playoff equation.  For the visitors though, it was a case of looking over their shoulders as opposed to looking ahead – a month ago, all seemed rosey for the men from ACT but recently the exciting young side have had a wee bit of a wobble, and with such a young side, that can have a profound effect on confidence.  The battle hardened Reds were now breathing down their necks at the top of the Australian conference, and only a win would be certain to keep the Queenslanders at bay.

With so much at stake then, it was perhaps understandable that the opening stages were a little edgy.  And by edgy, I mean scrappy; and by scrappy, I mean rubbish.  The Brumbies were edging the territory battle in the opening stages but none of their kicks were particularly incisive, with even the usually-excellent Jesse Mogg culpable of turning the ball over far too cheaply.  A moment of real note – if a sad one, though – was seeing powerful lock Kane Douglas, mourning the death of his mother (marked by a minutes silence), escorted from the field after just 30 seconds after suffering a bad concussion.  Despite the indifferent standard of rugby though, the current conference leaders were playing in the hosts half and the pressure eventually led to a relatively straightforward penalty shot for Christian Lealiifano to slot, although Waratahs scrumhalf Brendan McKibbin levelled the scores a couple of minutes later with a 3-pointer of his own.

Then the Brumbies tightened their grip on the game – they were starting to make inroads, with George Smith making a nuisance out of himself and Mogg creating a couple of breaks out of thin air.  Applying pressure to the Waratah's line, captain and number 8 Ben Mowen then hit a gorgeous short line off Nic White to slam in between 2 defenders and touch down for the game's opening try.  It went unconverted but, following another McKibbin penalty, they were soon back over the whitewash.  This time it came from a shocking pass from McKibbin that bobbled along the floor in the hosts' 22, giving the recovering Drew Mitchell too little time to get his kick away.  A solid charge down by Tevita Kuridrani's backside bounced kindly for the centre, who touched down for the visitors' second try of the evening.  Lealiifano wasn't having the best of times with the boot, and missed the conversion, but the ACT side still held a relatively-comfortable 13-6 lead at the halftime break.

We had seen nothing of the attacking prowess of Foley, Folau or Ashley Cooper in the opening period – but all that was about to change with the introduction of Berrick Barnes for the injured Rob Horne (who had impressed with a couple of powerful runs) after the break.  The Waratahs hadn't really looked like threatening the conference leaders' line but made a big statement at the start of the second half, with Michael Hooper scooting down the left hand touchline to score following a delightful fizzing pass from Barnes – and the Wallaby centre-cum-flyhalf-cum-fullback followed it up with a sweetly-struck conversion, too, bringing the hosts level before adding a penalty to take them into the lead for the first time.

Mogg, who still looked dangerous with ball in hand, then clawed the visitors back into a 6 point lead with 3 penalties in 10 minutes.   But by now, the attacking momentum was well and truly with the hosts and Barnes struck again, this time collecting a sneaky offload from Hooper when nothing seemed on before ghosting round Ben Mowen and charging over from 20 metres.  The conversion went wide to leave the hosts 1 point behind, before they grabbed the decisive score through winger Peter Betham.  This time it was Bernard Foley who was the architect, floating a beautiful pass to all Betham to get on the outside of Stephen Moore before stepping inside Robbie Coleman to dive over the line.  One conversion and one solid scrum later, the Tahs had their victory.

Whilst Robbie Deans won't be too chuffed at the outcome (with potential Wallabies George Smith, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Kane Douglas, Rob Horne and Pat McCabe all going off with various injuries), the New South Wales outfit will be pretty chuffed.  Statement made.  Ball rolling.

 

What else was happening across Super Rugby last weekend?

Hurricanes 12 – 17 Chiefs:  The Chiefs scraped through a tight encounter at the "Cake Tin" in Wellington, thanks to the only try of the game from Tanerau Latimer.  The rest of the visitors' points came courtesy of Aaron Cruden's boot whilst the Hurricanes had Beauden Barrett to thank for all their points.

Rebels 30 – 21 Stormers:  The Rebels grabbed a great win against South African powerhouses the Stormers in a ding-dong battle in Melbourne.  The hosts scored 5-pointers through the irrepressible Scott Higginbotham and Hugh Pyle, before a late penalty try sealed the win.  The visitors scored 3 tries of their own through Louis Schreuder, Bryan Habana and Andries Bekker.

Force 13 – 23 Sharks:  The Sharks finally broke their awful run of form with a solid win against the Force in Perth.  Sharks' scores from Keegan Daniel and Riaan Viljoen sandwiched a try for the hosts courtesy of Kyle Godwin.

Crusaders 23 – 3 Blues:  The Crusaders took a big step towards recovering their season by giving the in-form Blues a solid hammering.  The visitors went the scoreless but the Crusaders scored two tries through Ryan Crotty and George Whitelock, with Tom Taylor kicking the rest of the points.

Bulls 35 – 18 Highlanders:  The Bulls earned themselves a bonus point win with a 4-try hiding of the sorry Highlanders.  The hosts grabbed 5-pointers through JJ Engelbrecht, Akona Ndungane, Pierre Spies and Jano Vermaak, whilst the visitors managed late efforts via Fumiaki Tanaka and Tamati Ellison.

Cheetahs 27 – 13 Reds:  The Reds missed a golden opportunity to go top of the Australian conference as they were soundly beaten by the Cheetahs.  The Aussies could only manage a late effort from Ben Lucas but the hosts were out of the traps quickly with two early scores from scrum half Petrus van Zyl.

From Zeroes to Heroes - Prospects of the Lions Rejects - Part 2

The Lions Tour is now less than one week away.  Cancel any weekend plans over the next 50 days, invent a mysterious illness that keeps you out of the office only on Wednesday mornings (coincidently when the midweek games are to be played) and start drinking milk and eating high-starch meals now so that your stomach is suitably prepared for the onslaught.  Yes, this is the most eagerly anticipated event of the whole sporting year and, arguably, of the entire rugby universe – the Lions mean epic drama, quality rugby and almost unbearable levels of banter.

Of course, one of the biggest talking points was Warren Gatland's initial squad selection and the unlucky souls who missed out on the biggest opportunity of their careers.  But rarely does a Lions tour go by without somebody being called up as injury cover and then becoming an integral part of the team – think Martin Corry in 2001, Ryan Jones in 2005 and Tom Croft in 2009 (they all seem to be back row players…).  10 days ago, in Part 1 of RuckedOver's "Zero to Hero" guide, we reviewed the fatties and who would be the gamechanger upon their arrival, with Chris Robshaw the most likely to save the day.  This week, we'll turn our attention to the fairies out wide – who's going to be as useful as a condom machine in the Vatican and who's going to need get their cape dry cleaned?

 

In case you needed reminding of RuckedOver's explanation of hero ratings:

 

Hero Rating (Out of 10)

8 – 10: We're talking Batman/Ironman territory here (i.e. awesome). The Aussies are praying this lad doesn't hop on a plane down under and administer their brutal brand of vigilante justice upon them.

4 – 7: Not exactly earth-saving but capable of causing a bit of trouble for the bad guys – along the lines of DareDevil.

0 – 3: Will have next to no effect. Pants. In superhero terms, on par with Marty – the 5th 'Planeteer' from Captain Planet whose special power was to feel little animal's feelings.

 

Scrum Halves

DANNY CARE.  The Harlequins 9 may have comically little legs and, in my opinion, an abysmal haircut, but there is little doubt the England scrum half is somewhat unlucky not to be flying to Australia.  Before the squad was announced, he was still in several pundits' starting teams, but was eventually overlooked for the more physical Conor Murray.  Perhaps he paid for a poor showing  in the Six Nations, but there is little doubt that his club form has been sensational – demonstrating his eye for a gap and searing acceleration throughout the season – and in my view he is unlucky to lose out to Murray, who didn't exactly excel in this year's internationals either.  But, despite is game-breaking qualities, he does suffer from one fatal flaw – he can be a bit of a tool.  Yes, the drink-driving and public-peeing incidents are over a year old, but I refuse to believe anyone who has that monstrosity of a haircut has truly moved on.

Hero Rating: 6/10.
 

Others:  Lloyd Williams: 3/10

 

Fly Halves

JONNY WILKINSON.  Who else?  Ah, Saint Jonny.  He can do no wrong at the moment.  He still has his detractors who complain that he doesn't attack the gainline and that all he does is kick, which is fair enough to an extent, but when it comes to closing games out there is simply nobody better in the world.  In the Heineken Cup final, it was Wilkinson who won the territory battle and kicked the vital goals under the most intense pressure, it was Wilkinson who led the defensive line with a bloody-minded authority in the last quarter, and it was Wilkinson who did everything required to win a game his side had no right to.  Would I start him?  No chance – even he has admitted his body effectively held together by a Blue Peter-inspired concoction of sellotape and sticky-back plastic – but if the Lions are being pinned back with a lead and are panicking?  Then Jonny is your man – not for attacking rugby, but for the win.

Hero Rating: 10/10.

Others:  Charlie Hodgson: 4/10, Dan Biggar: 5/10

 

Centres

JAMES HOOK.  Well, he plays fly half and full back as well, but I think Hooky's best shot is getting in that 10/12 slot.  I wasn't the only one surprised by the lack of fly halves and ball playing centres in the squad, so Mr Hook can consider himself pretty unlucky to be left out.  He hasn't exactly been dazzling form for Perpignan but he is a big match player with soft hands who can unlock defences with his sharp tactical brain, and is certainly a useful bloke to have around the squad.  Any issues?  Well, it seems pretty clear that a) Gatland is going for a 'direct' approach against the Aussies, which isn't really Hook's forte, and b) Gatland doesn't really like the bloke, given his continued reluctance to select him for the national side.

Hero Rating:  7/10

BILLY TWELVETREES.  What a name and what a season for the Gloucester man.  "36" (Twelve trees, according to Geordan Murphy) has long been earmarked as a classy player in the middle of the park and he certainly did not look out of place for England during his debut international season.  Twelvetrees offers a similar skillset and versatility to Hook but also doesn't shirt the physical stuff, being a sizeable lump himself.  The perfect inside centre you ask?  Almost.  But a Lions tour would heap a world of pressure on the ex-Leicester man and that's something he's not always comfortable with, and he does have a nasty habit of getting himself turned over in key areas.  I have no doubt he'd do a decent job for the Lions, but a hero?  Not likely.

Hero Rating: 5/10

Others:  Scott Williams: 4/10, Matt Scott 3/10.

 

Wingers

CRAIG GILROY.  The baby-faced assassin from Ulster had a great breakthrough season at international level, proving himself a fine finisher as well as the wonderfully balanced runner that we all know he is.  With superb acceleration and deceptive footwork, the young tyro was edged out of a Lions spot by surprise shout Sean Maitland and his fellow club/countryman Tommy Bowe.  He possibly suffers from being a jack of all trades – he is not slow but not as quick as Maitland, and he is certainly not weak but he isn't as powerful or an out-and-out poacher like Bowe, which comes with experience.  He could well make some waves if he came over, but it's difficult to see him really causing a storm.

Hero Rating:  6/10

CHRIS ASHTON.  I know, I know.  It became the in thing to criticise Chris Ashton over the Six Nations – and rightly too.  In defence, he showed all the aggression of a sponge and, in attack, he was nowhere near as conspicuous as he needs to be.  But there is little denying that, on his day, he is one of the best finishers in rugby, popping here there and everywhere and picking gorgeous lines off half breaks whilst hunting for the offload.  Of course, he hasn't been 'on his day' internationally for quite some time, but he is at least capable of performing of the highest level if his head's in the right spot.  He's also known for being a bit of a character and well-liked by his teammates (believe it or not) so he'd probably be a good addition to the squad as a whole in the humourless reaches down under.  Could blow it all with a dropped ball via one of his ridiculous swan-dives, however.

Hero Rating:  8/10 (tackling and non-diving permitting) OR 2/10 (arguably more likely).

Others:  Christian Wade: 7/10, Tim Visser: 6/10

 

Full Back

MIKE BROWN.  The Harlequins fullback may look like he keeps a knife in his socks and uses words like 'blud' and 'safe' on a regular basis, but the England man is a damned good 15.  Solid under the high ball, powerful in defence and with an eel-like ability to wriggle out of tackles, Brown is a great asset in defence and attack, making good yardage on a significant basis.  He does, however, lack that little bit of pace – brutally exposed by Cuthbert back in March – and it is hard to see what he significantly offers over and above his other rivals.  Would do a sterling job if called upon though.

Hero Rating: 6/10.

Others:  Alex Goode: 3/10, Lee Byrne: 3/10.

Heineken Cup Final Review - Clermont Auvergne 15 - 16 Toulon

Patience is a virtue.  I personally detest that patronising mantra, not least when I’m wetting my pants in excitement for the start of the Lions tour – patience can sod right off.  But a couple of sides – namely, the 2 competing for the Heineken Cup in the final in Dublin on Saturday – have had to have become masters in the ‘art’ of waiting.  Clermont Auvergne have been dubbed as the unofficial ‘best side in Europe’ for the last 4 years, and yet the biggest club prize in the Northern Hemisphere has eluded them since the tournament’s inception – and with just one league title in 2010, despite multiple final appearances, questions have been asked about this Clermont side’s ability to perform on the biggest stage.  Toulon meanwhile had won their last major club trophy way back in 1992, but a huge amount of investment from Mourad Boudjellal has seen a host of superstars arrive over the last 5 years and the stock of the club has risen – but not to the point where they have been able to win anything more significant than a “biggest moneybags” award.

Yes, it’s fair to say that fans of these 2 must be similarly sick of waiting.  But that’s where the similarities end between the clubs, with Clermont’s wonderfully vibrant and fast attacking game – exemplified by the likes of Wesley Fofana, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Aurelien Rougerie – contrasting perfectly with the power and precision game executed for Toulon by Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Giteau and Bakkies Botha.

The difference between the two sides was obvious from the start.  Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Giteau were kicking from deep, content to let their chasers pressurise the Clermont catchers and then let their defence try to force a turnover.  But full back Lee Byrne was equal to the task and was rock solid under the high ball, giving the men in white decent territory to launch an attack against the Toulon line – and they took full advantage, with Morgan Parra slotting a 45 metre penalty after Bakkies Botha and Chris Masoe had infringed at the breakdown.

From the restart, Toulon tried to apply their own pressure and were given perfect position to do so after Wilkinson dislodged the ball from opposite captain Aurelien Rougerie.  Andrew Sheridan and Rudi Woolf carried with purpose into the Clermont defence, but a dropped pass forced a turnover and the Toulon pack were marmalised in the ensuing scrum, allowing the favourites to clear their lines.

The next 10 minutes were edgy, with plenty of half opportunities being shut down with bone-shuddering effectiveness from both sides.  Kicking tennis was becoming the default action, with mixed success from Brock James and Wilkinson, and it was the men in red who eventually benefited from the war for territory – with Matheiu Bastareau gaining decent ground after shrugging off Rougerie and forcing the backpeddling Clermont pack to concede a penalty.  Bread and butter for Wilkinson – 3-3.

This was becoming a real brawl, with neither side able to quite land a knock-out blow, but it was Clermont who were finding their range with couple of noticeable jabs – the slippery duo of Wesley Fofana and Sitiveni Sivivatu in particular causing havoc with a couple of scything runs that ultimately came to nothing.  They came closest to crossing the line just on the cusp of the half time break, with James gathering up a knock on from Woolf and chipping over Masoe, accelerating past the big number 8 only to see the ball roll dead just beyond the extended reach of the diving fly half.  The whistle for the interval went and, despite dominating territory, possession and chances, Clermont were somehow being held level and cut frustrated figures as they trotted off the pitch.

Upon the resumption, though, it seemed as if the men in white had finally discovered that clinical edge that has made them the most feared attacking side in Europe.  Firstly, Rougerie sucked in 3 defenders before offloading to the onrushing Napolioni Nalaga, who shrugged off the challenge of Sebastien Tillous-Borde to score in the corner.  Parra missed the conversion, but, following a Wilkinson penalty, Clermont struck again.  Rougerie was involved again as James placed a delightful chip over the Toulon defence for the big centre to gather before the Australian received the return pass to scamper in by the posts to score, despite the close attentions of Giteau.  Parra’s conversion was on the money, and now surely, with all Clermont’s experience, a 15 – 6 lead would prove unassailable?

Wrong.  Firstly, Wilkinson landed another penalty to bring the Galacticos within striking distance, before Toulon struck with the decisive score of the game.  Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, outstanding in defence all game, picked off a turnover from Fofana before popping it over the top to Armitage, who sprinted in past Brock James to score on the left.  What would have been a fine try was somewhat ruined by Armitage taunting and waving at the helpless James as he ran in for the 5-pointer, proving once again that the ex-London Irish full back is a total cretin with all the class of cat-calling builder.  One man who is not either of those things though, is Wilkinson, and the England legend (pay attention, Delon) slotted the tricky conversion to give Toulon the lead for the first time in the game.

It would prove to be the last score in the game, too.  Clermont continued to hold most of the possession and territory, but were met with a Toulon defence whose resilience was only matched by their physicality, with Lobbe and Bastareaud outstanding.   The favourites threw everything at their opponents in those closing stages, and how fitting it was that it was that man Wilkinson to charge down a potentially cup-winning drop goal from substitute David Skrela in the last minute.  The final whistle went and, against all the odds, it was this aging team of superstars who had their hands on Europe’s most coveted prize.

Nobody could begrudge Wilkinson lifting the trophy and adding another achievement to his over-filled scrapbook, or a Toulon side finally rewarding the investment put into the club.  A long time coming?  Whatever.  Any man, woman or child associated with the Galacticos will tell you that it was well worth the wait.  And maybe, with Wilkinson staying on another year, they won’t have to be so patient for the next one...

 
Clermont Player Ratings

Lee Byrne – 6 – Solid under the high ball but not that visible joining the line in attack.
Sitiveni Sivivatu – 7 – So, so dangerous whenever he gets the ball which unfortunately, for Clermont, was not enough.  Still made a couple of great breaks though.
Aurelien Rougerie (capt) – 8 – Arguably lost his one on one battle with Barrel Bastareau, but showed pure class in setting both of his side’s tries
Wesley Fofana – 6 – A couple of moments of magic, but otherwise was kept quiet and was shackled very well
Napolioni Nalaga – 7 – Was fairly anonymous until his try, but he showed off his agility, power and finishing skills for his finish
Brock James – 7 – A smart performance from the Aussie, finishing well for his side’s second and going close in the first half.  Kicked well, too.
Morgan Parra – 6 – A couple of dodgy kicks from hand summed up an average day at the office for the usually-classy scrum half.
Thomas Domingo – 6 – Bravely played on with an injured bicep but, for once, didn’t get his own way in the scrum
Benjamin Kayser – 6 – Solid in the lineout but was held up well on the carry by aggressive defence
Davit Zirakashvili – 5 – Had some issues in the scrum against Andrew Sheridan and unable to make a dent in the loose.  
Jamie Cudmore – 5 – Pretty invisible from the big Canadian.  Couldn’t win the battle of the muscle up front
Nathan Hines – 6 – Again, struggled to impose himself physically but got about the park well and his support play was good.
Julien Bonnaire – 6 – Great in the lineout but struggled to make any inroads on the carry.
Gerhard Vosloo – 5 – Outmuscled at rucktime by the powerful Toulon back row, meaning his side struggled for momentum.
Damien Chouly – 5 – Another who found yards difficult to come by with the ball in hand.

Subs used

No substitutes were on long enough to make a significant impact.

 

Toulon Player Ratings

Delon Armitage – 6 – Loses a point for acting like a complete tool on his way to scoring a try, but there’s no denying the effectiveness of that gliding running style
Rudi Wulf – 6 – A couple of nice breaks were impressive but his dropped ball nearly led to a try in the first half for Clermont
Mathieu Bastareaud – 8 – A colossal presence in defence and sat Rougerie down more than once.  Impressive.
Matt Giteau – 7 – A couple of crunching tackles highlighted his newfound physical focus, but complemented it with some gorgeous kicks as well
Alexis Palisson – 6 – A quiet day at the office for Palisson, but always looked sharp when he was on the ball
Jonny Wilkinson (capt) – 8 – The epitome of thinking correctly under pressure.  Kicked beautifully and led the line in defence with his usual relish.
Sebastien Tillous-Borde – 6 – A solid effort, impressing with some strong running but also falling off Nalaga for Clermont’s first
Andrew Sheridan – 8 – A great show from the big Englishman.  Dominant scrummaging and some blockbusting carries were the order of the day
Sebastien Bruno – 7 – Part of a powerful front row performance and solid in the set piece, a good day at the office.
Carl Hayman – 7 – A trademark performance from the experienced All Black, showing his power up front and crashing into contact with venom
Bakkies Botha – 7 – Typically boisterous, if not quite as conspicuous as usual, from the South African.  The big man was at the heart of a relentlessly physical display from his pack.
Nick Kennedy – 6 – Has established himself as the dark horse of the pack, superbly effective in the set piece despite the fact he isn’t the biggest hitter around.   
Danie Rossouw – 6 – Got around the park well and reigned in his tendency to give away penalties, but not a standout display
Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe – 9 – Another phenomenal performance.  Everywhere in the loose and with the ball in hand, he led a magnificent rearguard effort to hold out for victory. Man of the Match
Chris Masoe – 8 – A dominant display once again.  Made yard after yard and stopped the Clermont runners dead on the gain line.

Subs used

Jean Charles Orioli – 6 – Solid.  At least he didn’t chuck the ball to the opposition this time.
Gethin Jenkins – 6 – Chucked himself about with the usual venom and he’ll now be looking forward to getting on the Lions tour.
Davit Kubriashvili – Not enough time to make an impact
Joe Van Niekerk – 7 – Impressive stuff.  Moved around the park with impressive mobility and upped the tempo when Toulon needed it.
Steffon Armitage – Not enough time to make an impact
Jocelino Suta – Not enough time to make an impact
Frederic Michalak – 7 – Along with Van Niekerk, provided the impetus the team needed to get back into the game.