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.
This story is from the May 16, 2021 edition of The Rugby Paper.
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This story is from the May 16, 2021 edition of The Rugby Paper.
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