Bruiser uses diplomacy on day of vindication

It was a triumphant day for the ERC, for Toulouse, for Guy Noves and, of course, for Trevor Brennan. For the Barnhall Bruiser it was a day of redemption as well, in a way, and in one of his valedictory post-match TV interviews he couldn't resist a gentle rebuke for his erstwhile employer Matt Williams.

For someone long regarded as the quintessential Dub and even the heartbeat of the Leinster set-up, it's ironic that his qualities are now more valued amongst the aristocrats of French club rugby than in his native province or country. That much is clear from body language alone, the way his team-mates allowed him to enjoy the moments after he had led the team out, and then celebrated with him.

Fabien Pelous knows a winner when he sees one and his tribute to their adopted Irishman was as genuine as any of those heaped on Brennan before by Toulouse's director of rugby, Noves.

"Trevor has brought an altruistic dimension to us. He has been very unselfish in working for all the others. I know this is one of rugby's virtues but I was very surprised at how unselfish he has been. I didn't know you could have a dimension that high and that's what he has brought to us. What he has brought to us is maybe not so much technical as physically, mentally and spiritually. He showed us the way a few times," said Pelous.

In another irony, Brennan has dropped from fifth to, at best, 10th in the Irish back-row pecking order, despite having progressed from bit player with an Irish province to regular starter for the champions of Europe and domestic title semi-finalists in a more congested and demanding 30-plus game season.

This, he admitted was the best club day of his career, though he wasn't putting it up alongside playing for his country. But despite the trap being set, Brennan declined to bear any grudges or give up all hope that he will wear the green of his country again, even if his comments clearly conveyed the inner belief that the odds are probably against it.

"Obviously the squad for the tour to Australia, Tonga and Samoa was picked the other day and I wasn't in the 41. And I haven't been in the squad or even the A squad for a year now. At the moment, I think it's a case of out of sight, out of mind. But it's a long way off to the World Cup so I won't be making any enemies. I think I'll just keep my mouth shut,"

Pelous, thrice a Grand Slam winner, probably echoed the feelings of most international sportsmen when observing: "When you win with a club it is more of a collective feeling, because you share more with your team-mates during a season. It is a more shared feeling when you win whereas at international level the feeling is a little more individual, not as collective."

Looking ahead, Noves, in a typically considered response, admitted: "We know that it is a very significant victory for French rugby. If you compare it with seven years ago it was an important symbol for us to win the European Cup, but now it is a true competition. It is more difficult to get out of the pool phases, so for me it is more of a true competition and a true victory. We return to Toulouse now and it is a great source of pride to us to bring back the trophy to the people of Toulouse."

Noves said that pre-final demands in Toulouse and Perpignan to have the decider re-routed to France were "the heart speaking".

"We were made to feel so welcome here and I would also like to thank the Irish people for that welcome," he added.