C’est fini, shouts Wayne Barnes and after a scare at the death, Toulouse are Heineken Cup champions for the fourth time. Guy Noves’ men were definitely the better side, but almost shot themselves in the foot late on. Skrela and Fritz were deadly with the boot and the scrum went to town on the their Biarritz opponents. Not a classic by any means, but an entertaining encounter nonetheless. That’s all from me. Final score Toulouse 21-19 Biarritz.
Balshaw knocks it on in possession and Toulouse have a scrum and the chance to see this game out.
Toulouse win the line out and Kelleher’s clearance is charged down. Another Toulouse line out in their own 22′.
Peyrelongue pins Toulouse in the corner, Toulouse ball but Biarritz will contest.
Biarritz suddenly have a new lease of life. Balshaw and Ngwenya both have a cut down the left wing, but the American is tackled into touch. A lot of the Toulouse players suddenly look anxious.
Only minutes ago, william servat went off to a standing ovation and was pumping his fists towards the Toulouse faithful, he must be anxiously biting his fingernails round about now.
Out of nothing, Biarittz produce a try. Ngwenya gets away down the left and lays it inside for Karmichael Hunt and the Kiwi touches down under the posts. Conversion added. Biarritz back in it from nowhere and there’s still five minutes left.
TRY BIARRITZ!! Karmichael Hunt
Yachvilli taken off by Biarritz. Given his ability it’s an odd call, maybe it was because he kicked the ball away a few minutes ago.
Skrela doesn’t add insult to injury this time but in fairness it was a difficult kick, way out and to the right.
Another weak scrum by Barritz coughs up another penalty and another opportunity for David Skrela.
Yachvilli sums up Biarritz’s frustrations by kicking the ball way in anger to a chorus of boos from the Toulouse fans.
Skrela has been kicking beautifully all day and he continues to do so, pushing Toulouse nine in front. Biarritz now need a try you feel if they’re going to get back into this
Toulouse on the front foot again Poitrenaud gives it to Clerc who’s held up, but illegally so, five metres out. Penalty Toulouse.
There’s been replacements galore in the both packs, but still Toulouse reign supreme in the scrum, Biarritz pushed back a good five metres in the latest episode.
‘Onze’ shouts Wayne Barnes to confusion amongst the players. ‘Sorry, eleven’, is my French that bad?’ he says. I thought he was right the first time!
Another successful drop goal from Skrela and Albacete’s time in the bin is over. 18-12 with just over 20 to go. Biarritz need to mix it up a bit, they’re being completely dominated here and are luck not to be more than six behind.
Skrela’s up and under taken superbly by Jauzion. Toulouse again in a good position inside Biarritz’s 22, but again they turn it over. Albacete ready to come back on.
Good response from Toulouse. Skrela lands a drop goal to put his side back in the lead. 15-12 Toulouse.
Great few minutes for Biarritz. Medard messes up what looked like a certain try for Biarritz and down the other end they level the scores and a Toulouse player gets sent to the bin in the process. Totally against the run of play, but Biarritz are level.
Yachvilli predictably taps it over. 12-12.
Down at the other end, Benoit August kicks the ball ahead for Biarritz and is taken out of it by Albacete ten metres from the line. A bit far out to award a penalty try, but a definite yellow card. Penalty Biarritz.
Menard drops the ball with the try line at his mercy. He had another man out wide as well. Toulouse really piling it on at the moment. Might Medard live to rue that missed opportunity?
Toulouse have picked up where they left off at the end of the first half. Biarritz pinned back in their own half already.
More momentum for Toulouse, Medard kicks ahead but Ngwenya touches down safely. Referee might have brought play back for a block on Menard after the kick but it would have been extremely harsh.
Replays have shown actually that Harinordoquy’s mask was taken off him by Shawn Sowerby in the tackle. Expect revenge to be swiftly delivered.
The players are back out for the second half. Imanol Harinordoquy has shed his face mask, he mustn’t have been too badly hurt after all
Bit of a slow burner this one so far. Very little flowing rugby played, but anythng that was played was by the men in black. All of the kickers on show, including Florian Fritz, look confident and assured so both sides would be wise not to give up easy opportunities. Toulouse absolutely dominant in the scrum and are at least trying to play some rugby, whereas Biarritz seem happy to rely on Yachvilli’s boot. Toulouse look the likelier winners but a long way to go in Paris yet.
Half time in Paris. 12-9 Toulouse.
Fritz with a drop goal for Toulouse. Wayne Barnes checks with the TMO to see did it definitely go over but there’s no doubt about that one. They had a penalty waiting anyway. 12-9 Toulouse and only a minute to go to half time.
Uncharacteristically, Yannick Jauzion wastes good field postion for Toulouse with an over cooked kick that bounces out over the endline. Toulouse playing all the rugby though.
Skrela lands another penalty for Toulouse despite a slightly ugly kick. The out half raises his fist to the air in triumph. 9-9.
Medard goes ever so close for Toulouse after a great break from halfway. Iain Balshaw drags him down only metres from the line. The Tolouse fans suddenly find their voices but Poitrenaud fumbles the ball after it is recycled. Only the second or third time the Toulouse backline has got a chance to show what they can do.
Skrela nails it and Toulouse get to within three. 9-6 Biarritz.
Yet again, Toulouse destroy Biarritz in the scrum and earn the penalty. Straight in front for Skrela but it’s just past the halfway.
No problem whatsoever to the scrum half, who had picked up and thrown away his tee before the ball had even gone over the bar. He was that confident. 9-3 Biarritz
Iain Balshaw tackled very late by Florian Fritz and Biarritz awarded yet another penalty within Yachvilli’s range. Biarritz will take that sort of indiscipline all day.
What a kick that was by Florian Fritz. Toulouse awarded a penalty a good ten metres inside their own half and the centre nonchalantly steps up and with the minimum of effort clips it over the bar with yards to spare. 6-3 Biarritz.
Sean Sowerby is gobbled up by three hungry Biarritz forwards and the Basque side win the scrum. Toulouse still on top in that area though, winning another one and earning the free kick.
Second penalty for Yachvilli who is machine like with the boot. His effort hits the post aswell, but drops inside and over the bar. 6-0 Biarritz.
Yachvilli with a drop goal attempt for Biarritz but it tails off to the left and wide. Lively enough opening to this one.
Hits the post and rebounds to safety, Lund gets it to Ngwenya and the human cheetah makes about thirty metres in record time. Great way to turn defence into attack.
Knocked on by Medard only five metres or so from the Biarritz line. Toulouse absolutely destroy Biarritz in the resultant scrum and earn a penalty. First chance for Skrela to put some points on the board.
Penalty Biarritz. First chance for Yachvilli and he nails it down the middle. 3-0
Harinordoquy wins the ball from Biarritz’s first lineout. He has a protective mask on him again today, but it’s nothing like the monstrosity he had on a few weeks back.
Straight away, Toulouse on the attack and after making serious ground from a free kick, Jauzion’s drop goal attempt is blocked down and gobbled up by grateful Biarritz players. Lighting start by Toulouse.
Skrela with an awful opening kick, handing Biarritz a scrum on halfway. He’s a flaky player at the best of times, so one wonders how that will affect his confidence.
Wayne Barnes is the man in charge, the youngest ever Heineken Cup final referee. He has a tendency to blow the whistle liberally, hopefully he doesn’t ruin today’s game.
Toulouse are the favourites for this one and on paper it seems about right. For a start, their bench contains the likes of Dan Human, Louis Picamoles, Jean Baptitste Ellisalde and Cedric Heymans. Their backline reads Poitrenaud, Clerc, Fritz, Jauzion and Menard. Hopefully they’ll get to show what they can do.
Biarritz weakened by Traille’s absence but they showed against Munster the damage they can cause in the pack. My money’s on Toulouse, the players are out on the pitch at the Stade de France.
Have a look out for Biarritz inside centre Karmichael Hunt today. He was born in New Zealand and after today’s game he’s heading to Australia…to play Aussie rules.
Teams:
Biarritz: I Balshaw; T Ngwenya, A Mignardi, K Hunt, J-B Gobelet; J Peyrelongue, D Yachvili; E Coetzee, B August, C Johnstone, J Thion (capt), T Hall, M Lund, W Lauret, I Harinordoquy.
Subs: R Terrain, F Barcella, R Hugues, M Carizza, F Faure, V Courrent, P Bidabe, A Erinle.
Toulouse: C Poitrenaud; V Clerc, F Fritz, Y Jauzion, M Medard; D Skrela, B Kelleher; J-B Poux, W Servat, B Lecouls, R Millo-Chluski, P Albacete, J Bouilhou, T Dusautoir (capt), S Sowerby.
Subs: V Bernat Basualdo, D Human, C Johnston, Y Maestri, L Picamoles, J-B Elissalde, Y David, C Heymans.
Afternoon folks and welcome to JOE’s coverage of the all-French Heineken Cup final at the Stade de France. Not so long ago, Irish rugby fans were dreaming of an all-Irish affair but it wasn’t to be, thanks to an almighty forward effort from Toulouse against Leinster and an Imanol Harinordoquy-inspired Biarritz win over Munster in San Sebastian. Hopefully both sides come out and play and not leave it entirely to the forwards to duke it out. Glorious sunshine at the Stade de France, just over twenty minutes to kick off.
