Toulouse can edge this fascinating French battle

WHEN there are no English, Irish, Welsh, or Scots teams involved in the final of the European Cup it does not usually fire the imagination, but Saturday evening’s all-French final between Toulouse and La Rochelle at Twickenham should be a different matter.

- JEREMY GUSCOTT

It has the potential to be a great match, especially as Toulouse are the current leaders of the Top 14, with La Rochelle only a few points behind them in second place.

The way that Toulouse pushed through the pool rounds unbeaten says everything about the pedigree of a team chasing a record fifth title. Despite the Covid cancellations leading to a shortened tournament, their away win at Ulster, comfortable home victory over Exeter, gritty success at Munster in the last 16, and then French double over Clermont away in the quarter-final and Bordeaux-Begles in a home semi-final, makes them deserved finalists.

By contrast La Rochelle are the new kids on the block having reached their first final – which gives them the chance to become European champions before they have become French champions. The way that they smashed Sale in the quarter-finals, and then overwhelmed Leinster in the semis, means that they cannot be written off.

La Rochelle also have an impressive brains trust, with Jono Gibbes bringing some New Zealand know-how as director of rugby, and Ronan O’Gara, with his Munster European Cup credentials, installed as head coach.

However, because Toulouse are a team with a fantastic history built on playing great rugby, they are the side that will go into the final with the biggest weight of expectation on them.

I was lucky enough as a player to have been coached on occasions by one of their most influential figures, Pierre Villepreux. The former French full-back encapsulated the spirit of French attacking rugby, which has become a hallmark of the way Toulouse play.