European Rugby Champions Cup Final, 2 May

by **George Carlin** Mon 20 Apr 2015, 9:58 am

European Rugby Champions Cup Final, 2 May Toulon11

ASM Clermont Auvergne v RC Toulon
Saturday 2 May 2015
KO 17:00
Twickenham Stadium

Referee Nigel Owens (Wales) European Rugby Champions Cup Final, 2 May Worshi11

European Rugby Champions Cup Final, 2 May Worshi11

Touch Judge 1 Wayne Barnes (England)
Touch Judge 2 George Clancy (Ireland)
Fourth Official JP Doyle (England)
TMO Graham Hughes (England)

Citing Commissioner Jeff Mark (Wales)

Live on telly somewhere

Form:

ASM Clermont Auvergne
18/04/15 - ASM Clermont 13 - 9 Saracens
04/04/15 - ASM Clermont 37 - 5 Saints
25/01/15 - ASM Clermont 18 - 6 Saracens

RC Toulon
19/04/15 - Toulon 25 - 20 Leinster
05/04/15 - Toulon 32 - 18 Wasps
24/01/15 - Scarlets 3 - 26 Toulon

Teams:

ASM Clermont Auvergne
European Rugby Champions Cup Final, 2 May Damien10

European Rugby Champions Cup Final, 2 May Damien10

Abendanon; Nakaitaci, Davies, Fofana, Nalaga; Lopez, Parra, Debaty, Kayser, Zirakashvili, Cudmore, Vahaamahina, Bonnaire, Chouly, Lee.

Replacements: Delany for Nakaitaci (67), Rougerie for Nalaga (54), Radosavljevic for Parra (56), Domingo for Debaty (47), Ulugia for Kayser (63), Ric for Zirakashvili (66), Pierre for Vahaamahina (67), Bardy for Lee (54).

RC Toulon
European Rugby Champions Cup Final, 2 May Carl_h10

European Rugby Champions Cup Final, 2 May Carl_h10

Halfpenny; Mitchell, Bastareaud, J Hernandez, Habana; Giteau, Tillous-Borde; Chiocci, Guirado, Hayman, Botha, Williams, J Smith, S Armitage, Masoe.

Replacements: Wulf for J. Hernandez (66), Menini for Chiocci (48), Orioli for Guirado (63), Chilachava for Hayman (63), Taofifenua for Botha (47), Fernandez Lobbe for J Smith (58).

Not Used: Bruni, Michalak.

by Cyril Mon 20 Apr 2015, 12:21 pm

Hoping for a good one Smile

The two best sides in Europe both had tricky semi-finals but their class showed through in the end. Both can play good rugby when they want/are allowed to. Will Clermont choke again and can Toulon get above 2nd gear? They seem to have been coasting for most of this tournament - which is scary for everyone else!

Not sure who I want to win. Kinda want Clermont to break their duck but it would be pretty impressive for Toulon to get an unprecedented third straight title.

I reckon Jonny's Toulon by 5.

by **George Carlin** Thu 23 Apr 2015, 8:19 am

Clearly everyone is rabidly excited about this game. Tumbleweed

Here's the official preview for the seven of you out there who give a poop:

World rugby stars clash in Europe's elite final

The meeting of ASM Clermont Auvergne and RC Toulon in next month's Champions Cup final marks the first time in the 20-year history of the tournament that a final pairing has been repeated. Toulon defeated Clermont 16-15 in the 2013 decider at Dublin's Aviva Stadium.

At Twickenham in a fortnight's time, Toulon will emulate Toulouse's record of appearing in three consecutive finals. In 2003, Toulouse defeated Perpignan, they lost the following season against Wasps and then won the title again in 2005 against Stade Francais Paris.

The 41,500 that witnessed Clermont's victory over Saracens at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard was a record for a tournament semi-final in France - surpassing the 41,000 attendance for the Stade Francais v Biarritz game at the Parc des Princes in 2005. It was also the biggest attendance for any game at the Saint-Etienne venue.

Toulon are bidding to become the first club to win European club rugby's elite tournament three years in succession.

This will be the fifth tournament final at Twickenham Stadium. The previous winners were: 2000 Northampton Saints, 2004 and 2007 Wasps, 2012 Leinster Rugby.

This will be Toulon's fifth appearance in a European final in the space of six seasons. They lost to Cardiff Blues in the 2010 Challenge Cup decider, lost again in the Challenge Cup to Biarritz Olympique in 2012 and now will be playing in a third European Cup final in a row.

Toulon's victory over Leinster at the Stade Velodrome yesterday was the third time that a tournament semi-final was decided after extra-time. In 1998, Toulouse went through on try count against Brive, and in 2009, Leicester Tigers edged past Cardiff Blues after a penalty shoot-out.

When Clermont run out at Twickenham, they will be playing in their fifth European final. As Montferrand, they appeared in the Challenge Cup final in 1999 (defeating Bourgoin 35-16) and again in 2004 when they lost to Harlequins. As ASM Clermont Auvergne, they were back in the Challenge Cup final again in 2007 (22-16 winners over Bath Rugby) and then they lost to next month's rivals, Toulon, in the 2013 Heineken Cup final.

Next month's showpiece game will be the fifth all-French final: 2003 Toulouse 22 Perpignan 17; 2005 Toulouse 18 Stade Francais 12; 2010 Toulouse 21 Biarritz Olympique 19; 2013 Toulon 16 Clermont 15.

If Clermont are successful on Saturday, 2 May, they will become the 10th club to win European club rugby's elite tournament.

Toulon have now won all 16 of their matches in European club rugby's top flight on French soil.

by **RDW** Thu 23 Apr 2015, 8:43 am

It is a shame it is the two big spending French teams in the final - I'm really not that fussed about it!

It is a bit ridiculous when you see Clermont as the poor underdog out of the two going up against the rich Goliath that is Toulon.

by funnyExiledScot Thu 23 Apr 2015, 4:09 pm

by LordDowlais Thu 23 Apr 2015, 4:14 pm

This is not where it is at, if you want excitement and a big crowd, and value for money and two good games of rugby for a tenner, then head to Cardiff on Saturday, you will not be disappointed.

by Cyril Thu 23 Apr 2015, 4:19 pm

Well, I'm looking forward to the game anyway raspberry

by Jenifer McLadyboy Thu 23 Apr 2015, 4:21 pm

Could be a good game in the stoop?

by funnyExiledScot Thu 23 Apr 2015, 4:24 pm

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:Could be a good game in the stoop?

Quite right. The "proper" final.

by dubh_linn Sat 02 May 2015, 12:05 pm

anybody know what the team selections are?

by doctor_grey Sat 02 May 2015, 12:08 pm

RDW_Scotland wrote:It is a shame it is the two big spending French teams in the final - I'm really not that fussed about it!

It is a bit ridiculous when you see Clermont as the poor underdog out of the two going up against the rich Goliath that is Toulon.

I agree it's humourous to describe Clermont as an underdog. How can anyone be an underdog when the team is operated and funded essentially by the Michelin company?

by **Notch** Sat 02 May 2015, 12:15 pm

doctor_grey wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:It is a shame it is the two big spending French teams in the final - I'm really not that fussed about it!

It is a bit ridiculous when you see Clermont as the poor underdog out of the two going up against the rich Goliath that is Toulon.
I agree it's humourous to describe Clermont as an underdog. How can anyone be an underdog when the team is operated and funded essentially by the Michelin company?

Well I for one welcome our new corporate overdogs!

by doctor_grey Sat 02 May 2015, 12:23 pm

dubh_linn wrote:anybody know what the team selections are?

Clermont Auvergne		Toulon

	Team		Team
15	Nick Abendanon	15	Leigh Halfpenny
14	Noa Nakaitaci	14	Drew Mitchell
13	Jonathan Davies	13	Mathieu Bastareaud
12	Wesley Fofana	12	Juan Martin Hernandez
11	Napolioni Nalaga	11	Bryan Habana
10	Brock James	10	Matt Giteau
9	Morgan Parra	9	Sebastien Tillous-Borde
1	Vincent Debaty	1	Xavier Chiocci
2	Benjamin Kayser	2	Guilhem Guirado
3	David Zirakashvili	3	Carl Hayman
4	Jamie Cudmore	4	Bakkies Botha
5	Sebastien Vahaamahina	5	Ali Williams
6	Julien Bonnaire	6	Juan Smith
7	Damien Chouly	7	Steffon Armitage
8	Fritz Lee	8	Chris Masoe
	Replacements		Replacements
16	John Ulugia	16	Jean Charles Orioli
17	Thomas Domingo	17	Alexandre Menini
18	Clement Ric	18	Levan Chilachava
19	Julien Pierre	19	Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe
20	Julien Bardy	20	Virgile Bruni
21	Ludovic Radosavljevic	21	Rudi Wulf
22	Camille Lopez	22	Frederic Michalak
23	Aurelien Rougerie	23	Romain Taofifenua

by doctor_grey Sat 02 May 2015, 12:24 pm

Notch wrote:
doctor_grey wrote:
RDW_Scotland wrote:It is a shame it is the two big spending French teams in the final - I'm really not that fussed about it!

It is a bit ridiculous when you see Clermont as the poor underdog out of the two going up against the rich Goliath that is Toulon.
I agree it's humourous to describe Clermont as an underdog. How can anyone be an underdog when the team is operated and funded essentially by the Michelin company?

Well I for one welcome our new corporate overdogs!

At lease we know everyone in the Clermont organisation will have good tyres on their cars.

by **LondonTiger** Sat 02 May 2015, 12:34 pm

I love the ScrumV take on the final. "Who will be the 10th Welsh Winner?". Nine welshmen have been part of victorious teams, and with JD2 on one side and 1/2p the other we will see the 10th Very Happy

by dubh_linn Sat 02 May 2015, 1:16 pm

cheers doc

by **LondonTiger** Sat 02 May 2015, 1:30 pm

I look at those teams and Clermont just look better. Yet I just feel that Toulon have that will to win.

by yappysnap Sat 02 May 2015, 1:48 pm

As in the past I think so much for Clermont comes down to Brock James, if he's good they'll have a chance to win it.

If he's bad, well, they're in for a long day at the office. And there'll be dozens of very disappointed Clermont fans at Twickenham...

Still undecided if I'll bother to watch or not.

by **Notch** Sat 02 May 2015, 4:00 pm

yappysnap wrote:If he's bad, well, they're in for a long day at the office. And there'll be dozens of very disappointed Clermont fans at Twickenham...

If you shipped over all the Irish rugby fans who are hoping that Clermont beat Toulon, you'd have more than dozens. You could fill out Twickenham many times over. You'd only need free flights, booze and hotels to go with the free tickets- no problem for BTs deep pockets surely? Smile

Beneficiaries of Michelin they may be, but I've never met an Ulster, Leinster or Munster fan with a bad word to say about them and that is 99% to do with their wonderful fans. Without a shadow of the doubt, the BEST travelling fans. Every year I hope we avoid Clermont because they're so good, but also hope we get them because the atmosphere is so unbelievable when they come to town. They bring the noise- literally- and it's a good-natured, party atmosphere. We're all hoping that ASM can pull it off, just like they should have in Dublin in 2013- maybe because we know exactly what it's like to be consistently amongst the best without always getting the trophies to show for it. I'm no exception. I have my ASM scarf, and my half a dozen mispronounced French words. Feck Michelin- do it for the Yellow Army!

by **Rugby Fan** Sat 02 May 2015, 4:02 pm

I'm pleased we have a thread for the match, even if isn't raging hot.

When Wilkinson was playing for Toulon, it was always interesting to see how he was going. Not really so inspired by the opportunity to see Armitage and Abendanon but I am getting more interested in this game as it draws nearer. If I was near Twickenham, I probably would have gone along.

Even if our own players aren't going to be selected, there's a bit of World Cup interest for English supporters in the form of Halfpenny, Davies, Giteau and Mitchell. I know he has few fans, but it's sad Delon is injured.

No idea about this one. Toulon haven't looked anything special when I've caught them this season but they won last year when Clermont looked the better side. I just hope it's a good game.

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 02 May 2015, 4:19 pm

Could there be any less hype for this game?

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 02 May 2015, 4:28 pm

My brother got a ticket for this game the other day for £20. That is pretty appalling for a European Cup final.

by nathan Sat 02 May 2015, 4:36 pm

I find it telling that the comments of how bad this game is going to be are mainly from the Irish. It's as if they want it to fail, wonder why that is Whistle

by wolfball Sat 02 May 2015, 4:39 pm

if I was still in living in london I would have gone along if I managed to get the free-20 quid tickets... but one has to imagine french rugby message boards are an exciting place today? surely??

by wolfball Sat 02 May 2015, 4:41 pm

nathan wrote:I find it telling that the comments of how bad this game is going to be are mainly from the Irish. It's as if they want it to fail, wonder why that is

Citation? I don't see a single Irish person saying the game will be bad. Just people commenting on the lack of hype for what should be the biggest day in european rugby

by nathan Sat 02 May 2015, 4:43 pm

wolfball wrote:
nathan wrote:I find it telling that the comments of how bad this game is going to be are mainly from the Irish. It's as if they want it to fail, wonder why that is

Citation? I don't see a single Irish person saying the game will be bad. Just people commenting on the lack of hype for what should be the biggest day in european rugby

You know exactly what im talking about, no citation needed.

by LeinsterFan4life Sat 02 May 2015, 4:49 pm

A citation is certainly needed. Where are the comments saying how bad this game is going to be? There are only 20 odd comments here so it shouldn't be too hard to find Very Happy

With Owens as the ref and the quality of players on the pitch, this could be a great game.

by **Notch** Sat 02 May 2015, 4:52 pm

wolfball wrote:if I was still in living in london I would have gone along if I managed to get the free-20 quid tickets... but one has to imagine french rugby message boards are an exciting place today? surely??

Almost certainly not as much as they will be come the Top14 Final. That's not me trying to run down the new Cup either, nathan, it's just the truth. They wanted it moved forward so as not to detract from the climax of their domestic season.

by **LondonTiger** Sat 02 May 2015, 5:06 pm

I thought Brock James was starting?

by **LondonTiger** Sat 02 May 2015, 5:08 pm

Ah that explains it

by **Notch** Sat 02 May 2015, 5:12 pm

LondonTiger wrote:I thought Brock James was starting?

Weird situation when you hear a teams 10 has pulled out in the warm-up and you think "Well, that's probably going to help.' James is the better 10, but in terms of nerve under pressure in this tournament, you always wonder...

Cudmore on the other hand, would be a disastrous player to lose.

by whocares Sat 02 May 2015, 5:14 pm

Why Lopez doesnt score that type of penalty when he plays for France?

by **Notch** Sat 02 May 2015, 5:14 pm

whocares wrote:Why Lopez doesnt score that type of penalty when he plays for France?

Brock James Syndrome Wink

by **Rugby Fan** Sat 02 May 2015, 5:16 pm

The forwards have been a big part of the game so far but Abendanon has had a bright start, helping win that second Clermont penalty.

by yappysnap Sat 02 May 2015, 5:16 pm

Stadiums about two thirds full?

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 02 May 2015, 5:17 pm

nathan wrote:I find it telling that the comments of how bad this game is going to be are mainly from the Irish. It's as if they want it to fail, wonder why that is

That is nonsense, nobody has said the game is going to be bad. Read again and use your noggin.

by **Rugby Fan** Sat 02 May 2015, 5:18 pm

LondonTiger wrote:I thought Brock James was starting?

Will Greenwood must have been cursing, given that Brock James was the topic of his Telegraph piece on this game.

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 02 May 2015, 5:19 pm

yappysnap wrote:Stadiums about two thirds full?

Apparently the upper tier is empty.

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 02 May 2015, 5:24 pm

Decent game so far, Bendy & Lopez have started well.

by **Notch** Sat 02 May 2015, 5:25 pm

Rugby Fan wrote:The forwards have been a big part of the game so far but Abendanon has had a bright start, helping win that second Clermont penalty.

What I like about Clermont is they are all so good over the ball, even the lads with double figures on their back. Camille Lopez won a cracking turnover earlier too.

by **Rugby Fan** Sat 02 May 2015, 5:26 pm

Toulon have had a couple of breaks to keep Clermont honest but the Michelin men have the upper hand in these early stages.

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 02 May 2015, 5:26 pm

Notch wrote:
Rugby Fan wrote:The forwards have been a big part of the game so far but Abendanon has had a bright start, helping win that second Clermont penalty.

What I like about Clermont is they are all so good over the ball, even the lads with double figures on their back. Camille Lopez won a cracking turnover earlier too.

Most of the best teams are like this, with multiple very good players over the ball.

by **Notch** Sat 02 May 2015, 5:31 pm

Rory_Gallagher wrote:
Notch wrote:
Rugby Fan wrote:The forwards have been a big part of the game so far but Abendanon has had a bright start, helping win that second Clermont penalty.

What I like about Clermont is they are all so good over the ball, even the lads with double figures on their back. Camille Lopez won a cracking turnover earlier too.

Most of the best teams are like this, with multiple very good players over the ball.

I've just gotten too used to watching Ulster let Rory Best and Chris Henry do it all by themselves Wink

by Rory_Gallagher Sat 02 May 2015, 5:31 pm

Notch wrote:
Rory_Gallagher wrote:
Notch wrote:
Rugby Fan wrote:The forwards have been a big part of the game so far but Abendanon has had a bright start, helping win that second Clermont penalty.

What I like about Clermont is they are all so good over the ball, even the lads with double figures on their back. Camille Lopez won a cracking turnover earlier too.

Most of the best teams are like this, with multiple very good players over the ball.

I've just gotten too used to watching Ulster let Rory Best and Chris Henry do it all by themselves

by whocares Sat 02 May 2015, 5:31 pm

Parra 1-0 Tillous Bordes...

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 02 May 2015, 5:33 pm

whocares wrote:Parra 1-0 Tillous Bordes...

Very much so, great to see Parra back in some good form, such a classy 9.

by **Rugby Fan** Sat 02 May 2015, 5:34 pm

Delon Armitage probably doesn't have a future as a media pundit. "We started really well, and Clermont started really well too."

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 02 May 2015, 5:36 pm

Rugby Fan wrote:Delon Armitage probably doesn't have a future as a media pundit. "We started really well, and Clermont started really well too."

I was just surprised he didn't swear, well done Delon.

by **Rugby Fan** Sat 02 May 2015, 5:40 pm

Halfpenny a big reason Toulon are in touch.

Scott Quinnell thinks Parra was offside for Clermont's try. Barnes says we ought to be forgiving.

by **Rugby Fan** Sat 02 May 2015, 5:43 pm

Leigh Halfpenny the main reason Toulon are trailing Clermont. Very Happy

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