RC Toulon vs Cardiff Blues, Amlin Challenge Cup Final, Sunday 23 May 2pm SS1

thomond2006

Toulon:
C Marienval; G Lovobalavu, T May, S Williams, J Sinzelle; J Wilkinson, M Henjak (capt); S Taumoepeau, P Fitzgerald, D Kubriashvili, E Lozada, R Skeate, J van Niekerk, J Fernandez Lobbe, F Auelua.

Replacements: S Bruno, L Emmanuelli, T Ryan, J Suta, O Sourice, M Kefu, P Mignoni, T Umaga.

Blues:
Ben Blair; Leigh Halfpenny, Casey Laulala, Jamie Roberts, Chris Czekaj; Ceri Sweeney, Richie Rees; Gethin Jenkins (capt), Rhys Thomas, Taufa'ao Filise, Deiniol Jones, Bradley Davies, Ma'ama Molitika, Martyn Williams, Xavier Rush.

Replacements: Gareth Williams, John Yapp, Scott Andrews, Paul Tito, Sam Warburton, Darren Allinson, Dai Flanagan, Dafydd Hewitt.

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

For some reason, Contepomi doesn't make the 23. Shame.

Sonny Bill Williams should have an interesting tussle with Roberts and Laulala.

The Cardiff back row will have a hard time containing Van Niekerk and Fernandez Lobbe, those two ran the show in Galway.

If Cardiff win, the Scarlets qualify for the Heineken Cup so I'm rooting for Toulon. I'll be over there for 3 months next year so I want to follow a champion team.

The game is at the Stade Velodrome so it will be a home game for Toulon, they have played league games there previously.

I'd fancy them by 7-10 points.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpBobMwrUPA

Allez les rouges et noirs!

Digifriendly

thomond2006 wrote: »

If Cardiff win, the Scarlets qualify for the Heineken Cup so I'm rooting for Toulon. I'll be over there for 3 months next year so I want to follow a champion team.

Out of interest why do you not want to see Scarlets in the HC?

Judgement Day

Really cranked up for this one, my ex. has the kids, I have the money with PP and a seat lined up in the Antique Tavern! Going to be a really cracker if the Top 14 semi-final between Toulon and Clermont Auvergne was anything to go by. I don't know if Contepomi is injured but I thought he was fairly invisible when he came off the bench for the second half in the Clermont match. Still he will probably be on hand if Jonny needs water on Sunday.

Highlights, of which there were plenty, of the Top 14 semi below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpBeNDResE0

thehighground

I'm surprised at you Thomond for missing one of our own on the bench considering our propping crisis!

Timmy Ryan is on the bench for Toulon. Fairplay Timmy.

thomond2006

thehighground wrote: »

I'm surprised at you Thomond for missing one of our own on the bench considering our propping crisis!

Timmy Ryan is on the bench for Toulon. Fairplay Timmy.

My sincere apologies.

G'wan Tim!!

[Jackass]

Would love to see Cardiff win this one. They were so unlucky last season to miss out on a Heineken Cup final, they've never got their hands on the Magners League trophy, they just missed out on the play-offs this season to Munster, the only trophy they've ever won is the Anglo-Welsh cup, and I think they're a big ML and European team and deserve that recognition with a European trophy.

Toulon kind of came from nowhere and didn't take the years building up a squad deserving of sucsess and developing players, and I think as one of the big 4 from the ML, I always want to see those teams do well in Europe. A Cardiff win would leave only Ospreys without a European crown, and if Leinster don't win the ML every season (j/k ) my second preference at the moment would be Cardiff, simply to keep the competition competetive and build up the battle between the big 4 (Leinster hopefully 3 trophies, Munster & Ospreys 2 each, hopefully next season Cardiff 1? - Only twice has a team outside of Leinster, Munster and Ospreys won the trophy - Scarlets and Ulster on once off seasons - on the Ulster occasion Leinster lost the trophy in the dying seconds on the last day thanks to a David Humphries drop goal ).

thomond2006

Digifriendly wrote: »

Out of interest why do you not want to see Scarlets in the HC?

Hard to answer actually, I just don't like them. A bit of a pet hate I think. I don't like the Ospreys either, hope Leinster beat them next week.

Sorry, off topic.

[Jackass] wrote: »

Would love to see Cardiff win this one. They were so unlucky last season to miss out on a Heineken Cup final, they've never got their hands on the Magners League trophy, they just missed out on the play-offs this season to Munster, the only trophy they've ever won is the Anglo-Welsh cup, and I think they're a big ML and European team and deserve that recognition with a European trophy.

Having been shocking at the start of the season, they've found their form when it mattered. (Wasps anyone?)

Still a big ask to win in France, if it was a neutral venue I'd give them a big chance.

BoarHunter

[Jackass] wrote: »

Would love to see Cardiff win this one. They were so unlucky last season to miss out on a Heineken Cup final,

TBH they were already lucky to qualify for the 1/2 final. Toulouse were robbed ...

and that's not the only refused try of the match

Stev_o

Really hope Toulon win this, passionate team with a huge loyal following and they'v been playing great rugby this year. Personally i have a grudge against Cardiff for being no shows in the ML for years and they bore me when it comes to crunch games.

Digifriendly

Stev_o wrote: »

Really hope Toulon win this, passionate team with a huge loyal following and they'v been playing great rugby this year. Personally i have a grudge against Cardiff for being no shows in the ML for years and they bore me when it comes to crunch games.

Do you have a grudge against Dragons also? I hope Cardiff win and so Wales gets extra HC place rather than England (Gloucester take this place if Toulon win). I don't have a grudge against Gloucester or England but just prefer Celtic cousins!

Stev_o

Digifriendly wrote: »

Do you have a grudge against Dragons also? I hope Cardiff win and so Wales gets extra HC place rather than England (Gloucester take this place if Toulon win). I don't have a grudge against Gloucester or England but just prefer Celtic cousins!

No i support Dragons where i can they are the classic Welsh team that are the only team not to have gone off to a stadium far too big for them with no atmosphere, sadly politics means they get screwed left right and centre.

Digifriendly

Stev_o wrote: »

No i support Dragons where i can they are the classic Welsh team that are the only team not to have gone off to a stadium far too big for them with no atmosphere, sadly politics means they get screwed left right and centre.

Fair point and they will be in HEC next year but I still wish Wales to have 4 places and one less to England.

johnnysmack

going for cardiff just to show money cant buy you instant success.

outwest

3 3 after 20 mins,
place looks amazing, nearly 50000 there,

themont85

Great try by Sonny Bill Williams. 13-6 Toulon at half time. Hugely physical game-SBW early hit and and the one on Rush were :eek:, some nice play from both sides.

All those critics of Toulon do you see any other French club packing out a 50,000 stadium for the second tier competition. It will be great with them in the Heineken Cup next year.

profitius

Timmy Ryan is on. Looking forward to see how he does.

ongarite

Timmy Ryan now on for Toulon in the 2nd half.

johnnysmack

only just after turning on the game now. how is every one playing so far?

thomond2006

Jesus, I hope Wilkinson is alright.

He's substituted for Kefu, was able to walk off though. Great reception from the crowd.

ongarite

That looks very serious for Wilkinson.

toomevara

Get in Cardiff. Nice try.

johnnysmack

Good man jamie. try for cardiff under the posts

thomond2006

Try Jamie Roberts.

Toulon look a bit rocked.

13 - 13

thomond2006

Sweeney throws a forward pass in his own 22.

Risteard

Scrum going well with Tim Ryan in it, good to see.

thomond2006

Toulon's scrum wins a free kick and then a penalty.

G'wan Ryan.

Tom May strikes it through, 16-13.

thomond2006

There seems to be a better atmosphere here than in Paris yesterday.

Mignoni and Bruno on for Toulon.

thomond2006

Blair scores 3.

16-16, 19 minutes to go.

toomevara

Rush is having a huge, huge game.

TitoPuente

Go Halfpenny! Great stuff.

kmart6

Halfpenny try

21-16

Unlucky with the conversion!

thomond2006

What a try from Cardiff, superb play.

Toulon are rattled, the loss of Wilkinson has had an effect IMO.

Blair can't convert, 21-16.

toomevara

Brilliant...maybe money can't buy you everything....

kmart6

Anybody know why the Toulon staff are wearing Umaga T-Shirts?!

thomond2006

Toulon are struggling at the breakdown.

Edit: Bruno knocks on, big chance for Cardiff here.

Risteard

kmart6 wrote: »

Anybody know why the Toulon staff are wearing Umaga T-Shirts?!

He's going back to New Zealand after this game for a coaching role.

TitoPuente

Try for Bradley Davies. Looks like it's over for Toulon.

thomond2006

Try Cardiff, game over.

What a comeback.

toomevara

Fantastic try, Rush at the heart of it again, he's destroying Toulon up the guts. Loving it.

outwest

try cardiff,

toulans long season has caught up with them,

kmart6

Great try!

kmart6

Risteard wrote: »

He's going back to New Zealand after this game for a coaching role.

Hmmm I see....token few minutes now!

toomevara

thomond2006 wrote: »

Try Cardiff, game over.

What a comeback.

Maybe a little previous Thomond? Hope you're right.

Risteard

Not game over yet. Toulon are pretty capable of scoring 2 tries in 10 minutes.

outwest

umaga showing great hands, but they mess up

thomond2006

toomevara wrote: »

Maybe a little previous Thomond? Hope you're right.

I hope I'm wrong, I've a few quid on Toulon...:(

outwest

william went right off his feet there.

thomond2006

jesus why didn't skeate give that ball to the last man? Certain score!!

thomond2006

Cardiff's defence is immense.

outwest

game on,

thomond2006

YESS!!!