Toulouse beat defending champions Clermont Auvergne to book place in 2010/11 French Top 14’s Final
Toulouse booked their berth in the 2010 French Top 14 final after they defeated the Clermont Auvergne by a margin of 23 points at Stade Velodrome, Marseille on Friday, May 27.
Toulouse finished on top of the French Top 14 table after the round matches with 82 points coming from 17 wins out of the 26 games they played in the season. The defending champions, Auvergne, were lucky to secure a place in the play-offs after their relatively
poor performance in the season.
Clermont Auvergne started as the underdogs and a strong start at the kick-off from the Toulouse team dented their spirits further. Toulouse took the lead during the fifth minute of the game courtesy of their fly half David Skrela’s penalty. Two minutes later,
Toulouse winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca scored the first try of the match followed by Skrela’s conversion to extend their lead to 10 points.
Clermont scored their first points of the match during the 14th minute of the game through the efforts of their fullback Anthony Floch’s and his penalty. Both teams tried to fight for ball possession and were tooth and nail to gain territory.
However, both teams failed to create free flowing scoring opportunities apart from the two penalties scored by Skrela and Clermont scrum half, Morgan Parra, during the 22nd and 35th minute of the game.
Both teams left the field at half-time with scorecard reading 13 – 6, favouring Toulouse.
Toulouse started the second-half strongly as they denied the defending champions ball possession. Clermont made three substitutions during the first five minutes of the game but failed to make any impression.
Toulouse extended their lead as their fly half Skrela successfully kicked his third penalty of the game during the 46th minute. He followed it by his last penalty during the 53rd minute of the game to take the score to 19 – 6.
Toulouse kept the ball in their possession, kept constant pressure on the Clermon’t defence, and capitalised on every possible opportunity.
Nicolas Bezy came as substitute in place of Skrela during the 58th minute of the game. In the remaining time, Clermont tried their best to run a few paces to come into a scoring position but Toulouse defence denied them from making an effective
run.
Bezy missed three penalties before successfully kicking his first penalty of the night during the 78th minute of the game. Toulouse winger, Rupeni Caucaunibuca, scored his second try during the second minute of extra time followed by Bezy’s conversion
to make it 29 – 6.
Toulouse has won the French Rugby Union’s domestic competition title 17 times. However, this will be their first final appearance in three seasons. French Top 14 final will be played on June 4, 2011 at Stade de France, Saint-Denis.
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