Kelleher over the moon with triumph
Sat, 22 May 2010 21:01
Byron Kelleher was a happy man on Saturday night after he helped Toulouse claim Europe's greatest rugby prize.
The All Black scrumhalf was understandably delighted after Toulouse downed Biarritz 21-19 in Paris, particularly as he believes the Heineken Cup hasn't got any easier since he first moved to France just under three years ago.
"Year after year, this competition gets tougher," Kelleher, who played the full 80 minutes at the Stade de France, told Sky Sports.
"We're just ecstatic to come out as European Champions because it really is a challenge.
"It’s been a long old season but a satisfactory one today!"
Toulouse dominated the majority of Saturday’s hard-fought final, with their formidable pack in superb form, especially at scrum time.
But the now four times Heineken Cup winners nearly threw the match away when Biarritz centre Karmichael Hunt crossed for the only try of the game with just minutes remaining.
Kelleher admitted that the finale was far closer than he would have liked, although he was keen to pay tribute to his outstanding set of forwards.
"We've got an awesome pack and it’s great to play behind them," added Kelleher.
"We had confidence because we played with the ball a lot. We knew that, when we played with the ball and played Toulouse-style rugby, we'd keep putting the pressure on them and fatigue them.
"Biarritz played with desperation at the end. Both teams were fatigued; they played with desperation and that’s finals football. It just goes to show that you've got to be switched on for 80 minutes.
"But we came through in the end, we took our opportunities and it paid off.
"It’s awesome. It’s great for the province, it’s great for French rugby and I'm proud to be a New Zealander representing New Zealand in France."
With thanks to the ERC
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