Preview: HC Final, Munster v Toulouse
Fri, 23 May 2008 11:18
Heineken Cup Final: Munster versus Toulouse
It seems fitting that Cardiff will provide the backdrop to a Heineken Cup Final contested between two sides that have come to represent everything that is good about European rugby - Munster and Toulouse.
On Saturday the capital of Wales will host its fifth Heineken Cup Final, more than any other city.
And a full Millennium Stadium will welcome Toulouse, the only side to lift the trophy three times, and Munster, the No.1 ranked side in Europe over the past four seasons and winners of the Heineken Cup in that same venue in 2006.
The 13th Heineken Cup Final promises to be lucky for all as the two big hitters eye each other in a city that just loves the big occasion.
It is a clash of styles, of rugby cultures, and was the Final the neutrals longed for after it became a possibility after the semifinal draw was made in the wake of the pool stages.
Toulouse, who epitomise French elegance, a side so capable that winning seems easier than defeat, a side who effortlessly brush away the biggest of challenges, a side who may finally have met their match - the irresistible force that is Munster.
Munster not only look the part, they are the part.
A squad of unrelenting power and guile, filled with experience, heavy with wise old heads and fleet footed pace. Munster have been there, seen it, and have the battle scars to prove it.
Scott Quinnell, a Welsh dual international in Rugby League and Rugby Union, knows that a Heineken Cup Final between the two most successful sides in the history of European rugby will be a mouth-watering occasion.
"I think it's been a great season, I think we've seen a competition that's been the most keenly contested for years," said the 52-times capped (by Wales in Rugby Union) Quinnell.
"Two old-timers have got to the Final in Toulouse and Munster and it's going to be a heck of a game at the weekend, between the two best teams in Europe over the last 12 years," he added.
The legendary Welsh loose forward, Quinnell, spoke this week of the magic of the Final and what it will take for either side to take away Europe's most coveted club rugby prize - the Heineken Cup.
"I generally believe it will be one piece of magic or one mistake ... I hope it's a piece of magic that wins it at the weekend," he said.
"Toulouse have the ability to play some wonderful 15-man rugby.
"Munster as well, they have evolved their game over the last couple of years - with [Rua] Tipoki and [Lifeimi] Mafi coming in, they have a centre partnership that rivals anything in Europe at the moment."
Players to watch:
For Munster: They have some wonderfully gifted backs in Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, Doug Howlett, Rua Tipoki, Lifeimi Mafi and Shaun Payne. However, it is their great pack of forwards that hold the key to this game - the likes Marcus Horan, Federico Pucciariello, John Hayes, Jerry Flannery, Paul O'Connell (as captain), Donncha O'Callaghan, David Wallace and Anthony Foley. If they can strangle the French pack, O'Gara's boot can control the game - because he has the ability to sit in the pocket or play on the gain line.
For Toulouse: It is no doubt their real class is in that star-studded backline - the likes of Cédric Heymans, Yannick Jauzion, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Byron Kelleher. Any team that can leave Florian Fritz on the bench must be something special. But their forwards are not to be scoffed at, if you can field Thierry Dusautoir, Shaun Sowerby, Patricio Albacete, Fabien Pelous, William Servat and Daan Human. And of course then you go to their bench and there awaits Omar Hasan, Grégory Lamboley and Yannick Nyanga.
Head to head: On a big occasion like this you could probably list all 15 on either side, but there are a few key battles that could influence the outcome of the game. We can start with the captains - Paul O'Connell (Munster) and Fabien Pelous (Toulouse) - who will not only play crucial leadership roles, but will also go head-to-head in the line-outs, a vital set piece in the game. And the key playmakers behind the two packs are the halfback combinations - Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara (Munster) against Byron Kelleher and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (Toulouse) - who will dictate the play.
Road to the Final:
Munster:
Beat Saracens 18-16 in the semifinal
Beat Gloucester 16-3 in the quarterfinal
Beat London Wasps 19-3
Lost to Clermont Auvergne 19-26
Beat Llanelli Scarlets 22-13
Beat Llanelli Scarlets 29-16
Beat Clermont Auvergne 36-13
Lost to London Wasps 23-24
Toulouse:
Beat London Irish 21-15 in the semifinal
Beat Cardiff Blues 41-17 in the quarterfinal
Beat Edinburgh 34-10
Lost to Leinster 13-20
Beat Leicester Tigers 22-11
Lost to Leicester Tigers 9-14
beat Leinster 33-6
Beat Edinburgh 19-15
Previous Heineken Cup meetings:
2003: Toulouse won 13-12 in the semifinal
2000: Munster won 31-25 semifinal
1996: Toulouse 60-19
Heineken Cup history:
Munster:
Champions: 2005/06
Beaten finalists: 2001/02; 1999/2000
Beaten Semifinalists: 2003/04; 2002/03; 2000/01
Beaten quarterfinalists: 2006/07; 2004/05; 1998/99
Toulouse:
Champions: 2004/05; 2002/03; 1995/96
Beaten finalists: 2003/04
Beaten semifinalists: 1999/00; 1997/98; 1996/97
Beaten quarterfinalists: 2005/06; 1998/99
Prediction: No doubt Munster appear to have the edge, with a far stronger support base heading to Cardiff. However, if Toulouse turn up and play the rugby they are capable of, they certainly can upstage their Irish rivals. The French out would want to add to their reputation and this is not going to be won by a big margin. We feel Toulouse will edge it, by less than 10 points.
Teams:
Munster: 15 Darragh Hurley, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Lifeimi Mafi, 12 Rua Tipoki, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Denis Leamy, 7 David Wallace, 6 Alan Quinlan, 5 Paul O'Connell (captain), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Jerry Flannery, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Frankie Sheahan, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Mick O'Driscoll, 19 Donnacha Ryan, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Paul Warwick, 22 Keith Earls.
Toulouse: 15 Cédric Heymans, 14 Maxime Médard, 13 Yannick Jauzion, 12 Maleli Kunavore, 11 Yves Donguy, 10 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Thierry Dusautoir, 7 Shaun Sowerby, 6 Jean Bouilhou, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Fabien
Pelous, 3 Salvatore Perugini, 2 William Servat, 1 Daan Human.
Replacements: 16 Alberto Vernet Basualdo, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Romain Millo-Chluski, 19 Yannick Nyanga, 20 Florian Fritz, 21 Manu Ahotaeiloa, 22 Valentin Courrent.
Date: Saturday, May 24
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 17.00 (16.00 GMT)
Conditions: Heavy showers predicted. High 18°C, low 12°C
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch judges: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales), Hugh Watkins (Wales)
TMO: Derek Bevan (Wales)
With thanks to ercrugby.com
