“A happy ending” is what the English sensation, Jonny Wilkinson retires with today as the French Toulon won what is said to be ‘the game of the 2013/14 season.
Referee, Alain Rolland, who was refereeing his 3rd final, 86th European match and also his last ever professional rugby match got the match underway at the Millennium Stadium.
From the off the Saracens were out to prove something. A crunching hit by the finisher Chris Ashton, forced Toulon flanker to knock on, which brought the Saracens an early penalty from the scrum. Owen Farrell, slotting 3, to give the English side a 2nd minute lead.
The scrum was a key aspect of the opening 12 minutes, the riot act read out by referee Rolland twice, penalties kept coming, this time in a position for Saracens centre Bosch to give the Sarries a 6-0 lead. He pushed his kick wide leading to a Saracens lineout on the Toulon 10 metre line, in result of their clearance kick.
A jumpy moment for the Saracens as Richard Wigglesworth’s box kick was charged down by opposite number Tillous-Borde, only to land and go dead, denying the Toulon half back a certain try. 22 metre drop out was the re-start.
TMO consultation resulted in a yellow card for the Toulon flanker, Fernandez Lobbe for taking Alastair Hargreaves out in the air. Fortunately for the Toulon team, Farrell missed the 40 metre kick.
The first try of the game came in the 29th minute from Australian international, Matt Giteau. A change of direction from fly half Jonny Wilkinson, a quick chip over the top to be caught by fellow countryman, Drew Mitchell, flicking the ball back inside to Giteau who finishes in the corner. Wilkinson with his routine kicking style, slotting the extra 2 points over from the touch line, to give Toulon a 7 – 3 lead, half an hour in to the game.
With 3 minutes to go of the first half, referee Rolland signalled for a penalty advantage for hand in the ruck, Wilkinson taking the advantage and dropping a goal, to give Toulon a 10 – 3 lead.
Drew Mitchell kicking ahead, to the error of Alex Goode, who failed to clear, getting himself in to a lot of difficulty, the Sarries backs linking to get him out of trouble, only for the ball to be passed out on the full. Half time, and Toulon lead 10 points to 3.
Saracens got the first half of the second half, as fly half Owen Farrell slotted 3 from a scrum penalty to bring them to just a 4 point deficit.
Wilkinson adding another 3 points after the Saracens concede another penalty.
Brilliant interplay by the Toulon players rounded off with a superb try by the Toulon flanker, Juan Smith. Hint of a forward pass in the build-up, passed as flat by the officials. Wilkinson adds the extra 2.
Wilkinson rubs salt in the wound and adds yet another penalty, ill-discipline being in issue in the game from both sides.
Good phases of play from both sides, Delon Armitage gets hands on ball and kicks the ball out, to end the game. The final whistle, for the final time, for Alain Rolland, the final game for the Heineken Cup, final European game for that man, Jonny Wilkinson, allez Toulon, they are European Champions for the final time.
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Heineken Cup Champions – Toulon
Heineken Cup Runners-up – Saracens
Toulon: D Armitage, D Mitchell, M Bastareaud, M Giteau, B Habana, J Wilkinson (C), S Tillous-Borde; X Chiocci, C Burden, C Hayman, B Botha, D Rossouw, J Smith, JM Fernandez Lobbe, S Armitage
Subs: JC Orioli, A Menini, M Castrogiovanni, A Williams, V Bruni, M Mermoz, M Claassens, J Suta
Saracens: A Goode, C Ashton, M Bosch, B Barritt, D Strettle, O Farrell, R Wigglesworth; M Vunipola, S Brits, M Stevens, S Borthwick (C), A Hargreaves, K Brown, J Burger, B Vunipola
Subs: J George, R Barrington, J Johnston, M Botha, J Wray, N de Kock, C Hodgson, C Wyles
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland) (86th and final European match)
Assistant Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (Wales)
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