News

Preview: Heineken Cup Final

May 23 2008

The 2008 Heineken Cup Final is here! On Saturday a sold-out Millennium Stadium will play host to the most eagerly anticipated game in Europe for some time. It's Munster and Toulouse going all out for the ultimate prize.

When the European rugby gods adjourned back in November they must have been in a jovial mood. We have waited close to thirteen years for this very final, and now, finally, they have granted us our heart's desire.

Two sides with prouder histories in this magical tournament you will not find. Munster and Toulouse are deeply entwined in its rich and vibrant history, forever etched into the annals that tell a compelling story.

It was Toulouse who won the very first Heineken title back in 1996, and from there they have become almost obsessed with a tournament that challenges players and coaches on so many different levels. To win it takes monumental reserves of mental resolve, physical prowess and a passion that runs deep in the heart.

Munster and Toulouse have these qualities in spades. Munster's own affiliation with the tournament is a story of its own, a unique quest for their very own Holy Grail. A quest that finally came to an end in 2006 when they overcame a stubborn Biarritz Olympique to bring Limerick to its collective knees.

There is no doubting the dominance these sides have enjoyed through the past thirteen years. The seven most capped players in the tournament hail from these two giants of the game, between the two of them their knockout appearance amasses to a staggering twenty. Seven combined finals equate to four titles between them, three to the mighty Toulouse.

That's all history though, all that matters now is Saturday. Toulouse will look to claim an unprecedented fourth title, where as Munster will be hoping the Millennium Stadium can be kind to them once again as they look for title number two.

It will be a clash of styles and cultures, of that there is no doubt. There is nothing that can faze Munster, over the years they have seen it all, what's more they have conquered it all. Their side demands respect, a cunning mix of experience and exuberant youth.

An unrelenting attitude allows them to bludgeon you in the forwards whilst their fleet-footed backs lie in wait to tear the most resolute defences apart. There is a very good reason why Munster are in the final, they are, man for man, one of the best teams going.

In contrast Toulouse epitomise everything French. First and foremost they, and they alone, have a unique ability to play rugby with an unrivaled flair, the sort that most other teams can but dream of. It comes and it goes, the old French trait of temperamentally, but when it flows forth there are few capable of containing it.

Declan Kidney, in his last game as Munster's Head Coach, has kept faith with the same starting XV that secured the semi-final win over Saracens. That means Peter Stringer has to settle for a place on the bench as Tomas O'Leary continues at scrum-half.

The formidable back row once again consists of Alan Quinlan, David Wallace and Denis Leamy, with young Donnacha Ryan providing cover from the bench meaning Anthony Foley, who retires at the end of the season, will have to watch from the stands.

Donncha O'Callaghan gets the nod ahead of Mick O'Driscoll in the second row, and he partners captain Paul O'Connell. Behind the pack the impressive Rua Tipoki continues his partnership with Lifeimi Mafi.

For Toulouse Guy Novès has gone for Jean-Baptiste Elissalde at fly-half, and he partners former All Black Byron Kelleher at half-back. There had been speculation that Valentin Courrent would don the number ten jersey, but instead Novès keeps faith with the French scrum-half in the pivotal position.

Maxime Medard and Yves Donguy line up on the wings, neither of whom have ever played in a final, let alone a Heineken Cup Final. However with Cédric Heymans at full-back they will have plenty of guidance and support in attack.

Fabien Pelous will captain the side from the second row in what is a fearsome pack. South African-born Shaun Sowerby packs down at number eight with Thierry Dusautoir taking the openside berth, with Yannick Nyanga forced onto the bench.

Players to Watch

For Toulouse: There is not a single player in Toulouse's back-line you would not want to watch. Yes there are the household names like Cédric Heymans, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde and Byron Kelleher, but don't forget the equally dangerous players such as Maxime Medard and Yves Donguy. All are capable of turning a game in a heart-beat. Above all look out for Fabien Pelous, Toulouse's captain and talisman. For it will be he who holds this side together, gives the brilliant individuals a sense of togetherness. He will lead from the front both in body and spirit, for him this is the final chapter, a third European title as captain is his for the taking.

For Munster: Man for man there is not a single player in this squad that does not epitomise Munster through and through. From the iconic Paul O'Connell to the fresh-faced Denis Hurley they all know what it means to where the Munster shirt. But for us the one man who has that little extra is Alan Quinlan. Over the years he has been describe with every superlative that you can think of, and rightly so. You may not witness all that he does, but trust us when we tell you he does it. Expect another courageous performance from Mr Munster himself.

Head-to-Head: We could go for any one of fifteen possible battles here, the players on show are that good and each private battle is as important as the next. But we have gone for the mouth-watering showdown between Yannick Jauzion and Rua Tipoki. Munster have a back-line to match Toulouse, but in order to extract the best from it Tipoki will need to not only carry but distribute with aplomb. We all know how dangerous he is with ball in hand but Saturday will be more about how he uses that ball and those wider out than him. His opposite man, Jauzion, is a class act. His skill set is as close to perfect as they come and he could just be the man to blunt Tipoki's razor-like step. In attack he too will need to look outside, where he will find exciting runners in their hordes, he just needs to find a way of unleashing them.

Previous Results:

2003: Toulouse won 13-12

2000: Munster won 31-25

1996: Toulouse won 60-19

Form: The road to the 2008 HEC Final

Prediction: There is not much that separates these two great teams on paper, and that will be reflected on the scoreboard this Saturday. Toulouse will launch endless attacks to test the Munster resolve, and Munster will not be shy coming forward themselves. The heart says Munster but the head says Toulouse. Toulouse by three points.

The Teams:

Toulouse: 15 Cédric Heymans, 14 Maxime Medard, 13 Maleli Kunavore, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Yves Donguy, 10 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Shaun Sowerby, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Jean Bouilhou, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Fabien Pelous (c), 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.

Munster: 15 Denis Hurley, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Lifeimi Mafi, 12 Rua Tipoki, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Dennis Leamy, 7 David Wallace, 6 Alan Quinlan, 5 Paul O'Connell (c), 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.

Date: Saturday 24 May, 2008

Kick-off: 17:00 BST (16:00 GMT)

Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Weather: The roof on the stadium will be closed

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Touch Judges: Nigel Whitehouse, Hugh Watkins (Wales)

Fourth Official: Wayne Barnes (England)

Television Match Official: Derek Bevan (Wales)

By Marcus Leach