Biarritz v Toulouse: All All-French affair in Paris in summertime wasn't quite what Irish supporters had in mind at the start of the month. Nevertheless, this doesn't appear to be preventing around three-quarters of the 7,000-8,000 Leinster and Munster supporters who bought tickets in advance from gate-crashing this domestic party.
They began arriving yesterday to sunshine and blue skies and temperatures in the 20s, albeit on the Friday of yet another French bank holiday weekend. The traffic meltdown suggested half of Paris were leaving the city while the other half were on their way home.
Judging by one or two in red, Munster supporters were of a mind to support Biarritz, simply to prevent Toulouse pulling further clear of them by winning a fourth Heineken Cup, and perhaps also to put their second-half collapse against Biarritz in a better light. Even some Munster supporters accept Leinster might well have had the measure of Biarritz, judging by the holders’ efforts the previous day against Toulouse. Perhaps this is why Leinster fans appear to be rooting for Toulouse.
With more of the same forecast for today, the temperatures should have cooled come kick-off. Having guided Toulouse to a record sixth European Cup final, Guy Noves has effectively reverted to his first-choice XV after his selection for their French semi-final defeat to Perpignan last weekend almost amounted to a self-fulfilling prophecy.
As well as recalling Byron Kelleher, Noves restores seven of last week’s bench that failed to make the desired impact after, ironically, Toulouse had led at half-time. The brilliant Maxime Medard starts ahead of Cedric Heymans on the left wing, while Jean-Baptiste Poux is restored at loosehead ahead of Daan Human compared to the team that beat Leinster. Heymans is in a record sixth Heineken Cup final match-day squad, while Yannick Jauzion, William Servat, Poux and Jean Bouilhou are in their fifth final.
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde’s readiness off the bench is subject to a fitness test on his calf and if ruled out, Gregory Lamboley or Finau Maka will be named in a 6-2 split. Either way, their bench is, as usual, frightening and we know Noves will look for maximum impact from them.
In their only previous Heineken Cup meeting, in the semi-finals six years ago, Biarritz were doing a number on the Toulouse set-pieces until the introduction of Isitolo Maka’s ballast and dynamic ball-carrying changed the game.
From nine to 15 (and especially in the outside three), and one to 22, Toulouse look the much more rounded side. But as those semi-finals showed, the set-pieces may be critical, and with Fabien Barcella to spring from the bench Biarritz will target the scrums.
Compared to the Biarritz team which beat Munster, the Kiwi-born Aussie rugby league star Karmichael Hunt, in his last game before taking up a lucrative Aussie Rules contract, reverts to centre. Julien Peyrelongue is restored to outhalf and Ayoola Erinle drops to the bench. The pack is unchanged, with the inspirational Imanol Harinordoquy fit to start.
To avoid the intense build-up in Biarritz, the BO players decamped to Paris last Wednesday, while Noves was grateful for the chance to give his players two days’ rest before reconvening on Monday and arriving in Paris yesterday.
“I hope they can recover and regain a positive mental,” said Noves. “We are going to play without considering this match as a further hurdle. At last, we are going to show a great side at the Stade de France. We’ll be ready.”
Match-hardened if weary, or battle-shy if fresh? Jack Isaac, Biarritz’s Australian backs coach, is unsure. “Maybe we’ll be in trouble in the opening of the match, but we’ve got our freshness.”
Toulouse have won the two previous all-French affairs, neither of which were dripping in French élan. With Wayne Barnes in charge this may well follow suit, and the more structured the game, the more it should suit Biarritz, with their juggernaut pack and the string-pulling of Dimitri Yachvili. The longer it is in the balance the more it may suit them too.
Toulouse may be better equipped to hit the ground running, and the looser it is the better for them too. The Biarritz defence might struggle to contain Toulouse from turnovers or if les rouges et noires get their power plays or peerless offloading game into gear.
BIARRITZ OLYMPIQUE: I Balshaw; T Ngwenya, A Mignardi, K Hunt, J Gobelet; J Peyrelongue, D Yachvili; E Coetzee, B August, C Johnstone, J Thion [capt], T Hall, M Lund, W Lauret, I Harinordoquy. Replacements: 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 Poux, W Servat, B Lecouls, R Millo-Chluski, P Albacete, J Bouilhou, T Dusautoir [capt], S Sowerby. Replacements: A Vernet Basualdo, D Human, C Johnston, Y Maestri, L Picamoles , J Elissalde, Y David , C Heymans.
Referee : Wayne Barnes (England).