HC final 2013 - ASM Clermont Auvergne Vs RC Toulonnais - Teams announced etc

I thought I would start a thread since teams are now announced. Appreciate this 100% french final might not draw loads of interest but it's still a game of rugby that will eventually decide who will be the next european top dog after years of Leinster dominance.

so here are the matchday 23 teams :

ASMCA :

15. Lee Byrne, 14. Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13. Aurélien Rougerie, 12. Wesley Fofana, 11. Napolioni Nalaga, 10. Brock James, 9. Morgan Parra, 1. Thomas Domingo, 2. Benjamin Kayser, 3. Davit Zirakashvili, 4. Jamie Cudmore, 5. Nathan Hines, 6. Julien Bonnaire, 7. Gerhard Vosloo, 8. Damien Chouly

subs 16. Ti'i Paulo, 17. Vincent Debaty, 18. Clément Ric, 19. Julien Pierre, 20. Julien Bardy, 21. Ludovic Radoslavjevic , 22. David Skrela, 23. Regan King

RCT :

15. Delon Armitage, 14. Rudi Wulf, 13. Mathieu Bastareaud, 12. Matt Giteau, 11. Alexis Palisson, 10. Jonny Wilkinson, 9. Sébastien Tillous-Borde, 1. Andrew Sheridan, 2. Sebastien Bruno, 3. Carl Hayman, 4. Bakkies Botha, 5. Nick Kennedy, 6. Danie Rossouw, 7. Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 8. Chris Masoe
subs : 16. Jean-Charles Orioli, 17. Gethin Jenkins, 18. Davit Kubriashvili, 19. Joe van Niekerk, 20. Steffon Armitage, 21. Maxime Mermoz, 22. Frederic Michalak, 23. Jocelino Suta,

It seems that there is finally very little injuries and should the weather be nice, we shall hope for a good game of rugby.
Some interesting matchups and questions:
- Will Domingo manage to deal with Hayman power (pushed by Botha and Rossow!!).
- Who will shine between Fernandez-Lobbe and Bonnaire who are quite similar players in terms of class and ability (very smooth line out operators, not very powerful but very efficient in the rucks)
- Who between Fofana and Giteau will have the most space to express themselves?
- Will Wilkinson score more than 20 points?
- Can Palisson outpace sivivatu?
- Will Cudmore get the 1st yellow card?

Is it me or are there not enought Frenchmen in the two squads to put together a team?

- Will Domingo manage to deal with Hayman power (pushed by Botha and Rossow!!).

I doubt it to be honest, but that said there is a bit of bulk in the Clermont pack to assist him too.

- Who will shine between Fernandez-Lobbe and Bonnaire who are quite similar players in terms of class and ability (very smooth line out operators, not very powerful but very efficient in the rucks)

Really not sure, I like Bonnaire more, so I will go for him.

- Who between Fofana and Giteau will have the most space to express themselves?

I hope that the game is open enough for that, although I have a feeling it is going to be a bit too cagey for either of them to play.

- Will Wilkinson score more than 20 points?

Most likey.

- Can Palisson outpace sivivatu?

I hope we get a chance to see, but like the Fofana/Gitau question I think it may be too tight a game for us to find out.

- Will Cudmore get the 1st yellow card?

a safe bet it will be him of Hines.

It will likely be pi$$ing down, advantage Toulon?

I count 4 french players in the starting team for Toulon.

Its funny that Leinster were accused of "buying" the HC last year by some posters on here with our grand total of 2 foreign players in the starting team. This Toulon team is rediculous.

LeinsterFan4life wrote:I count 4 french players in the starting team for Toulon.

Its funny that Leinster were accused of "buying" the HC last year by some posters on here with our grand total of 2 foreign players in the starting team. This Toulon team is rediculous.

I dont know a lot of european top teams that have less than 2 foreigners starting regularly (maybe some of the Welsh regions) so such comment would be quite outrageous.

Cudmore and Hines together in the second row. Jeez that's a fire cracker of a pairing!

Who will you be supporting whocares?

I really hope both teams dont go into this with the intention of taking every dropgoal opportunity

Bakkies v Cudmore should be one for the purists!

Golden wrote:Who will you be supporting whocares?

I really hope both teams dont go into this with the intention of taking every dropgoal opportunity

Altough I am neutral in theory, I would much prefer Clermont to win as they have been close to the top level for seven years now only winning once the T14 and once the challenge cup... I also prefer their supporters, players, style of play and above all coach and president!

Agreed - I'm with Clermont on this one. Their style of play is infinitely preferrable.

rodders wrote:Bakkies v Cudmore should be one for the purists!

I take Cudmore, but in a bloodbath. This is worth the price of admission.

Weather forecast is sh!te for tomorrow - heavy rain and cold - so may end up as a war of attrition rather than a tryfest

Agreed - I'm with Clermont

Part of it, would be if Toulon won, BBC would have all over it, Jonny Wilkinson's Toulon win H-cup, and then be followed by Jonny Wilkinson this and Jonny Wilkinson that.

(nothing against Jonny Wilkinson, but the BBC and others do go over the top in thier coverage of him, they are moving away from covering clubs to covering players)

Also Clermot have been knocking on the H-cup door for years and deserve to pick it up.

brennomac wrote:Weather forecast is sh!te for tomorrow - heavy rain and cold - so may end up as a war of attrition rather than a tryfest

it's end may! supposed to be spring ffs!

Well its spring here. 75°F and a hint of a cloud!!!!!!!!!!

doctor_grey wrote:

rodders wrote:Bakkies v Cudmore should be one for the purists!

I take Cudmore, but in a bloodbath. This is worth the price of admission.

That's if Hines doesn't get to Bakkies first. ASM by 15.

Kingshu wrote:Agreed - I'm with Clermont

Part of it, would be if Toulon won, BBC would have all over it, Jonny Wilkinson's Toulon win H-cup, and then be followed by Jonny Wilkinson this and Jonny Wilkinson that.

(nothing against Jonny Wilkinson, but the BBC and others do go over the top in thier coverage of him, they are moving away from covering clubs to covering players)

Also Clermot have been knocking on the H-cup door for years and deserve to pick it up.

+1

I don't want the lions tour to deal with the huge media pressure that will be 'total Jonny', I also don't know why I really favour CA, I think it's the way Toulon are going about their business, CA haven't done too dissimilar in the way they have signed plenty of players too, but Toulon just seem to have done it so crassly, and just sign as many big names as they can regardless of what they need.

Strong start from Toulon....

Clermont have the edge, 3 penalties to 0 - Toulon need disipline

Wilkinson missing touch in a HC final!

Byrne looks so strong under the high ball, reminds me of 2009

Rougerie is getting a bit of a bashing out there... twice he's been put on his backside....

rodders you just saved my bacon, thought KO was 6...

Clermont 3 - Jonny Wilkinson 3

Rougerie is getting pasted!!!

He's struggling to deal with Basterau's beer gut alright

Talk about Basts beer gut Fofana had a bit of luck inside him there...

A cracking midfield battle!!

Brock James why keep that in play???

Keep your foot in touch and catch the thing mun...

Toulon are playing some good stuff, a willingness to run and nice offloading. Not the approach many sides take in such a big final, let alone one with Toulon's (maybe undeserved) reputation. Looks like it's going to be a good match.

Byrne shouldve got outside of Bast there, just highlighting his lack of pace these days?

Gotta give Jonny credit, he ,made 2 cover tackles there on Sivs, and Bruno

Whoa Toulon got out of jail there... great final so far..

At what point does Bast release or keep on his feet at that tackle??

Toulon havn't scored a try in the knockout rounds...

COME ON CLEREMONT!!!

thebluesmancometh wrote:Byrne shouldve got outside of Bast there, just highlighting his lack of pace these days?

He rolled back the years there!

2009 Lee Byrne in action tonight

He loves those up and unders when he is catching everything

rodders wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:Byrne shouldve got outside of Bast there, just highlighting his lack of pace these days?

He rolled back the years there!

Always been good in the air, but that pace isn't quite there, 3 years ago Bast wouldve been left for dead!

Both teams very equal in almost every area

Clermont need to get the ball in the hands of their wingers, that is where their edge is

Toulon scrum looks strong, but Cleremonts back 3 look confident!

thebluesmancometh wrote:

rodders wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:Byrne shouldve got outside of Bast there, just highlighting his lack of pace these days?

He rolled back the years there!

Always been good in the air, but that pace isn't quite there, 3 years ago Bast wouldve been left for dead!

Don't think he is that slow, probably can't play on the wing any more but he has plenty of pace for a FB - no slower that Kearney for example.

thebluesmancometh wrote:Toulon scrum looks strong, but Cleremonts back 3 look confident!

Clermont scrum was stronger at the start - don't think either has much of an edge

Haha, sounds like the brass band are playing Lady Gaga!?

Fofana almost through - can't give him any time or space

Bast very lucky at that breakdown again, he is nowhere near the ball just wrapped his arms around the players body...

Some ferocious stuff going on.

The Toulon pack is just ferocious, Bonnaire wriggles off Botha to get hammered by Sheridan!!!!

As good as Toulons defence has been 3/4 key decisions have gone their way

Clermont look to be getting in space and suddenly Toulon appear from nowhere

Intense final, one lapse from Toulon and Clermont will be through

Speaking of which!

Did James beat the dead ball line?

If the final was at Murrayfield James would have scored with about 10m to spare!

Centimetres between a try and a scrum 30 metres out to the opposition

Cleremont have to stay cool and patient, don't get frustrated and just keep plugging away and it'll come...

Otherwise Toulon will bite them!

Toulon haven't had much of a chance to show anything, have they been in the Clermont 22?

I don't think Clermont are going to give away many kickable penalties

Clermont are so creative, exellent kick from James