On occasions, the stars seem to align in the world of sports. Think about the top-ranked golfers participating in the climactic last round of the Open Championship, or two supreme racehorses running side-by-side on the last stretch at Ascot. We often champion the victor, but in truth the quality is so uniformly high that everyone can feel like a winner.
Such a day in rugby union could be on the cards this weekend. Both Toulouse and Leinster, featured seven times apiece in the final showdown of the Champions Cup, and together boast a total of nine club championship trophies. The French blue-bloods are graced by Antoine Dupont, arguably the world’s finest player, and display exceptional skill and heritage. Leinster, on the other hand, will be led by the gravitas of the Irish squad, the reigning Six Nations champions, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Combine all these elite constituents, place them in an impressive contemporary arena in one of the globe’s most significant cities, and there is indeed risk of being overwhelmed by heightened anticipation. However, these two teams have witnessed ample climactic matches to handle the pressure, and the promising weather outlook for Saturday adds to their confidence. From an organiser’s standpoint, it is as close to a dream finale as one could wish for.
Interestingly, the question of whether this game can inspire the young ones of North London to swap their round football for a rugby ball seems irrelevant. Hypothetically at least, no game in this tournament’s 27-year history hold more international relevance than this. Past champions from Brive, Bath, Ulster, Northampton, Leicester, Wasps, Munster, Toulon, Saracens, Exeter, and La Rochelle all bear distinctive heritage but none compares to the current draw of this year’s finalists.
Leinster’s semi-final at Croke Park attracted a staggering crowd of 82,300, with tickets selling out within hours. Toulouse, with a budget of €46.3 million, the largest in France. Any minor news about one of their players quickly finds its way to social media. It’s not always that size matters, but this clash of the giants is truly one for the books.
Consider Dupont, and his equal counterpart, Jamison Gibson-Park, as two key exemplars. The contribution these two make to their respective teams can best be compared to the operation of a watchmaker’s store, rather than merely keeping a single timepiece operating. Having witnessed Dupont’s performance post the demanding World Cup, a dramatic midseason transition to Sevens, and him playfully handle Exeter in the quarter-finals, one cannot be more persuaded about his role in redefining the very essence of rugby.
While different in his approach, Gibson-Park nonetheless demonstrates equal sharpness. Whether he’s spotting the potential for a game-turning inside ball from a teammate, or identifying an open spot for his compadre, James Lowe, Gibson-Park is at the making of all of Leinster’s polished maneuvers, more so post the retirement of the admired Johnny Sexton. His initial round triple score against Northampton was just a recent testament to his competence.
The list of nominees for this year’s premier player award includes three players apart from the scrumhalf stars, two of them from Leinster. Lowe is, understandably, on the list following his pivotal performance this season, alongside the equally effective Caelan Doris and Dan Sheehan. Watch both of them to appreciate their impressive skill set, versatility and productivity, and it’s even more astonishing considering they are only 26 and 25 years of age.
Looking at some fascinating head-to-head encounters, we have Sheehan v Peato Mauvaka and Tadhg Furlong v Cyril Baille in the front row, then there’s the contest between the Brit Jack Willis and Josh van der Flier on the loose. Blair Kinghorn has been demonstrating some splendid play and kicking for Toulouse; could he potentially upset the high aspirations of the Irish, given his past experiences with Scotland at the World Cup?
With these teams though, it’s not only about the individuals but also the way they engage in the game. They both demonstrate physicality, swiftness, and tenacity, but what sets them apart is their intelligence and capacity to spontaneously change tactics. Be on the lookout for Toulouse’s fast line-outs, the surprise attacks from Mauvaka or Dupont, and Leinster’s Jacques Nienaber-guided blitz defense. South Africa nudged past France in the previous World Cup, and if Nienaber can breakthrough Toulouse’s strong assault this weekend, it would indeed be a laudable achievement.
In the annals of the tournament, it can be argued that there have been seven unforgettable shows of rugby prowess. The exhilarating performance by Brive in Cardiff in 1997 outshining Leicester with a score of 28-9, would be just the initiation. The thrilling last-second feats could be seen in the spectacular win of Leicester against Stade Francais at Parc des Princes, posting a score of 34-30 in 2001, as well as in the match between Wasps and Toulouse two decades back at Twickenham.
The epic rally by Leinster from a deficit of 22-6 against Northampton in 2011 is categorised among the most glorious comebacks of the game. Additionally, the unexpected rise of the humble Exeter is evident in their win against Racing 92 in 2020, where they tipped the scale with a score of 31-27. The fans were treated with a high-octane finale last season, with Leinster and La Rochelle engaging in a high quality final.
Although it may be challenging to eclipse these outstanding performances, if any two teams seem capable of doing so, it would undoubtedly be Leinster and Toulouse. Drawing parallels with the famous “Duel in the Sun” between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus at Turnberry in 1977, or Grundy and Bustino’s epic “Race of the Century” at Ascot in 1975, sets the tone for what could be expected. Evidently, a match-up between these bests certainly overshadows the all-Manchester FA cup final happening at Wembley this weekend, as being the most hotly anticipated event. – Guardian