The Final Frontier

Toulouse, Biarritz, Racing Metro, Munster, Ulster, Clermont Auvergne, Wasps, Northampton. A number of serious challengers all defeated by Saracens in the 47 matches in Europe since their return to the top flight competition in 2011, but, along with Leinster, Toulon is a name conspicuous by its absence, as the 2013 2014 and 2015 winners lock horns with the side looking to emulate them, having gained the upper hand against Sarries in the 2013 semi final and 2014 Cardiff final.

 

Toulon boast that they have never lost at home in Europe, but as with Munster in the Heineken Cup, and Clermont in the Top 14, these records eventually fall, and you get the sense Sarries would relish the challenge even more. Much like their opponents, Toulon took time to reach the domestic and European summit, having being in the second tier in France as recently as 2008. They were beaten twice in the Challenge Cup Final, losing out to the incongruous pairing of Cardiff Blues in 2010 at Marseille and Biarritz at the Stoop two seasons later, as well as losing out in Top 14 finals to Toulouse and Castres in 2012 and 2013. Not always admired for their ambitious acquisition of players, there was a major exception as a resurgent Jonny Wilkinson put his injury problems behind him and reinvented himself as the focal point of the side, getting all of the points against Saracens in the 24-12 semi final win at Twickenham in 2013 and getting another 13 points in the final the following year. He signed off from the club after the 2014 Top 14 title win.

 

In all three European triumphs, they were heavily reliant on the World Cup winner's prowess. Without diminishing this in any way, the three final wins yielded a grand total of five tries for the winners, and, having watched all three live (as well as their semi finals), they don't live as long in the memory as Leinster's triumphs in three of the four previous campaigns. Personally, it felt that an exciting squad played overly cautiously, and, though this approach was justified in delivering an unprecedented treble, it didn't seem to be something for the neutrals to savour. That said, it was a