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| Munster and Wasps lead Heineken Cup memories that will stand test of time | Munster and Wasps lead Heineken Cup memories that will stand test of time |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| They think it’s all over. It will be soon. European club rugby is continuing next season but the Heineken Cup in its present form is about to exit the saloon bar. The 19th and last final takes place, between Saracens and Toulon, in Cardiff on Saturday, leaving behind a riveting history of remarkable games, intense rivalries and overflowing passion. | They think it’s all over. It will be soon. European club rugby is continuing next season but the Heineken Cup in its present form is about to exit the saloon bar. The 19th and last final takes place, between Saracens and Toulon, in Cardiff on Saturday, leaving behind a riveting history of remarkable games, intense rivalries and overflowing passion. |
| Trying to pick the best 10 games since 1995-96 is like catching thistledown. How to rank truly historic occasions – Ulster’s final triumph in 1999, say – against unforgettable results such as Connacht winning in Toulouse this season, or Edinburgh beating Racing Métro 48-47 a couple of years ago? What about the high-class Leinster-Clermont encounters, the volatile Pontypridd-Brive clashes, the “Bloodgate” game, the “Hand of Back” in the Leicester-Munster final, the atmosphere in Perpignan’s Stade Aimé Giral or Clermont’s Stade Marcel Michelin, Shane Williams scoring tries for the Ospreys at the death or Harlequins’ Nick Evans seeing off Stade Français in 2008 after 29 last-gasp phases? | Trying to pick the best 10 games since 1995-96 is like catching thistledown. How to rank truly historic occasions – Ulster’s final triumph in 1999, say – against unforgettable results such as Connacht winning in Toulouse this season, or Edinburgh beating Racing Métro 48-47 a couple of years ago? What about the high-class Leinster-Clermont encounters, the volatile Pontypridd-Brive clashes, the “Bloodgate” game, the “Hand of Back” in the Leicester-Munster final, the atmosphere in Perpignan’s Stade Aimé Giral or Clermont’s Stade Marcel Michelin, Shane Williams scoring tries for the Ospreys at the death or Harlequins’ Nick Evans seeing off Stade Français in 2008 after 29 last-gasp phases? |
| What follows, accordingly, is a strictly personal selection of highlights. Looking down the list is to be stirred afresh by memories that will surely stand the test of time. Not all the best venues are represented – away trips to Biarritz, San Sebastián, Thomond Park and Ravenhill have to be experienced to be believed – but here goes anyway ... | What follows, accordingly, is a strictly personal selection of highlights. Looking down the list is to be stirred afresh by memories that will surely stand the test of time. Not all the best venues are represented – away trips to Biarritz, San Sebastián, Thomond Park and Ravenhill have to be experienced to be believed – but here goes anyway ... |
| 10 Brive 28 Leicester 9 (Cardiff Arms Park 1997; final) | 10 Brive 28 Leicester 9 (Cardiff Arms Park 1997; final) |
| Leicester fondly imagined they had a good side but Brive left vapour trails all over the pitch, setting a new benchmark for the newly professional club game. The combination of a tough pack, with an outstanding Polish flanker in Gregory Kacala, and fluent backs expertly marshalled by half-backs Alain Penaud and Philippe Carbonneau simply blew the Tigers away. | Leicester fondly imagined they had a good side but Brive left vapour trails all over the pitch, setting a new benchmark for the newly professional club game. The combination of a tough pack, with an outstanding Polish flanker in Gregory Kacala, and fluent backs expertly marshalled by half-backs Alain Penaud and Philippe Carbonneau simply blew the Tigers away. |
| 9 Cardiff Blues 26 Leicester 26 (Millennium Stadium 2009; semi-final) | 9 Cardiff Blues 26 Leicester 26 (Millennium Stadium 2009; semi-final) |
| Stands out for the unique penalty shoot-out which ultimately decided a breathless contest. Leicester had led 26-12 with two minutes of normal time left, only for tries from Jamie Roberts and Tom James to drag the Blues back into it. Cruelly, Martyn Williams and James missed key kicks in an agonising shoot-out before Jordan Crane put the Tigers into the final against Leinster. | Stands out for the unique penalty shoot-out which ultimately decided a breathless contest. Leicester had led 26-12 with two minutes of normal time left, only for tries from Jamie Roberts and Tom James to drag the Blues back into it. Cruelly, Martyn Williams and James missed key kicks in an agonising shoot-out before Jordan Crane put the Tigers into the final against Leinster. |
| 8 Munster 23 Biarritz 19 (Millennium Stadium 2006; final) | 8 Munster 23 Biarritz 19 (Millennium Stadium 2006; final) |
| Munster had waited so long to win the Heineken Cup that the tension had become acutely painful. Their previous near-misses were forgotten, however, when they finally finished the job courtesy of Peter Stringer’s crafty sniping break down the blind side. For Paul O’Connell, Anthony Foley, Ronan O’Gara, John Hayes and thousands of other Munster men and women, it was a day in a million. | Munster had waited so long to win the Heineken Cup that the tension had become acutely painful. Their previous near-misses were forgotten, however, when they finally finished the job courtesy of Peter Stringer’s crafty sniping break down the blind side. For Paul O’Connell, Anthony Foley, Ronan O’Gara, John Hayes and thousands of other Munster men and women, it was a day in a million. |
| 7 Saracens 46 Clermont Auvergne 6 (Twickenham 2014; semi-final) | 7 Saracens 46 Clermont Auvergne 6 (Twickenham 2014; semi-final) |
| Not so much a memory as a scarcely credible blur; few results have created such ripples across Europe. Sarries’ “wolf-pack” defence reached whole new levels of intensity, led by the astonishing Jacques Burger. He touched the ball only twice but put in 28 thunderous tackles in 70 minutes as Clermont wilted. It was the first time the powerful French side had suffered a 40-point losing margin in the professional era. | Not so much a memory as a scarcely credible blur; few results have created such ripples across Europe. Sarries’ “wolf-pack” defence reached whole new levels of intensity, led by the astonishing Jacques Burger. He touched the ball only twice but put in 28 thunderous tackles in 70 minutes as Clermont wilted. It was the first time the powerful French side had suffered a 40-point losing margin in the professional era. |
| 6 Wasps 27 Toulouse 20 (Twickenham 2004; final) | 6 Wasps 27 Toulouse 20 (Twickenham 2004; final) |
| Toulouse played as well in patches as anyone has in a European final, their forwards offloading wonderfully as Wasps chased muscular shadows. All seemed lost until Rob Howley chased hopefully up the Twickenham touchline and Clément Poitrenaud fatally misjudged the bouncing ball. Magnifique. | Toulouse played as well in patches as anyone has in a European final, their forwards offloading wonderfully as Wasps chased muscular shadows. All seemed lost until Rob Howley chased hopefully up the Twickenham touchline and Clément Poitrenaud fatally misjudged the bouncing ball. Magnifique. |
| 5 Leinster 33 Northampton 22 (Millennium Stadium 2011; final) | 5 Leinster 33 Northampton 22 (Millennium Stadium 2011; final) |
| The most dramatic turnaround ever seen in a major final. At half-time Northampton led 22-6 and seemed on course for a stunning victory. They reckoned without the inspirational words of Jonathan Sexton at half-time and the tactical nous of Joe Schmidt and Greg Feek. The momentum shifted up front early in the second-half and Leinster scored 27 unanswered points, with Sexton contributing 28 points in all. | The most dramatic turnaround ever seen in a major final. At half-time Northampton led 22-6 and seemed on course for a stunning victory. They reckoned without the inspirational words of Jonathan Sexton at half-time and the tactical nous of Joe Schmidt and Greg Feek. The momentum shifted up front early in the second-half and Leinster scored 27 unanswered points, with Sexton contributing 28 points in all. |
| 4 Munster 33 Gloucester 6 (Thomond Park 2003; pool stages) | 4 Munster 33 Gloucester 6 (Thomond Park 2003; pool stages) |
| As dramatic a sporting event as anything I’ve witnessed, despite the apparently one-sided scoreline. They call it the Miracle Match for understandable reasons; Munster had needed to win by four clear tries and a margin of 27 points to qualify for the knock-out stages. Amid all the mathematical confusion, Ronan O’Gara swore he was unaware of the importance of the final last-minute conversion of John Kelly’s try; had he missed, Munster would have fallen short. Unforgettable. | As dramatic a sporting event as anything I’ve witnessed, despite the apparently one-sided scoreline. They call it the Miracle Match for understandable reasons; Munster had needed to win by four clear tries and a margin of 27 points to qualify for the knock-out stages. Amid all the mathematical confusion, Ronan O’Gara swore he was unaware of the importance of the final last-minute conversion of John Kelly’s try; had he missed, Munster would have fallen short. Unforgettable. |
| 3 Stade Français 30 Leicester 34 (Parc des Princes 2001; final) | 3 Stade Français 30 Leicester 34 (Parc des Princes 2001; final) |
| Rarely has there been a more partisan “neutral” venue than the Parc des Princes; the pre-match din was as ear-splitting as any final before or since. Just when Diego Domínguez’s boot – he kicked nine penalties and a drop-goal – seemed to have buried the Tigers, Austin Healey’s inspired line-break put Leon Lloyd over in the corner. As a game of rugby it pretty much had it all. | Rarely has there been a more partisan “neutral” venue than the Parc des Princes; the pre-match din was as ear-splitting as any final before or since. Just when Diego Domínguez’s boot – he kicked nine penalties and a drop-goal – seemed to have buried the Tigers, Austin Healey’s inspired line-break put Leon Lloyd over in the corner. As a game of rugby it pretty much had it all. |
| 2 Toulouse 25 Munster 31 (Stade Chaban Delmas 2000; semi-final) | 2 Toulouse 25 Munster 31 (Stade Chaban Delmas 2000; semi-final) |
| This, in many ways, was the day Munster really embarked on their decade-long adventure. On a searingly hot afternoon in Bordeaux, Toulouse were strong favourites and would have beaten most opposition. Munster defiantly refused to buckle and gradually seized the day with thrilling tries by Ronan O’Gara and Jason Holland. The pre-match banquet was almost as good. | This, in many ways, was the day Munster really embarked on their decade-long adventure. On a searingly hot afternoon in Bordeaux, Toulouse were strong favourites and would have beaten most opposition. Munster defiantly refused to buckle and gradually seized the day with thrilling tries by Ronan O’Gara and Jason Holland. The pre-match banquet was almost as good. |
| 1 Munster 32 Wasps 37 (Lansdowne Road 2004; semi-final) | 1 Munster 32 Wasps 37 (Lansdowne Road 2004; semi-final) |
| This was the day the professional club game stepped out of the shadows of international rugby to announce itself as a world-class spectator sport in its own right. A glorious spring day produced a truly mesmerising contest at Lansdowne Road between two smart sides in their prime, both renowned for their willpower. Munster led 32-22 after an hour but the 124 kg Trevor Leota’s belly-flop try with three minutes left ultimately sealed Wasps’ epic fightback. | This was the day the professional club game stepped out of the shadows of international rugby to announce itself as a world-class spectator sport in its own right. A glorious spring day produced a truly mesmerising contest at Lansdowne Road between two smart sides in their prime, both renowned for their willpower. Munster led 32-22 after an hour but the 124 kg Trevor Leota’s belly-flop try with three minutes left ultimately sealed Wasps’ epic fightback. |
| Long Hard Road | Long Hard Road |
| Amid all the injury and unavailability issues facing Stuart Lancaster, it should be remembered that southern hemisphere players are far from immune. Australia’s Quade Cooper will be out until mid-September after requiring shoulder surgery and the All Blacks will be without Charles Piutau, a likely back-three starter, and Luke Romano for next month’s Test series against England. Injury remains an occupational hazard but a better-defined schedule for club and international rugby would definitely ease the burden on top players. | Amid all the injury and unavailability issues facing Stuart Lancaster, it should be remembered that southern hemisphere players are far from immune. Australia’s Quade Cooper will be out until mid-September after requiring shoulder surgery and the All Blacks will be without Charles Piutau, a likely back-three starter, and Luke Romano for next month’s Test series against England. Injury remains an occupational hazard but a better-defined schedule for club and international rugby would definitely ease the burden on top players. |
| The Bath chairman Bruce Craig has come up with an enticing solution, suggesting all Test tours worldwide are played in a new six-week Test window between mid-August and late September. The northern hemisphere club rugby season would be in two blocks either side of the Six Nations – from October to mid-February and April to June – while the Super Rugby season would run between February and July, followed by the Rugby Championship in October and November. World Cups and Lions tours would slot into the August to September window. The proposal deserves serious consideration, if only to bring an end to the current ridiculous clash between the end of the European club season and major tours to the southern hemisphere. “An England tour at the end of a really tough season is very hard on players,” stressed Craig. “An extended international block later in the year would be the best solution.” | The Bath chairman Bruce Craig has come up with an enticing solution, suggesting all Test tours worldwide are played in a new six-week Test window between mid-August and late September. The northern hemisphere club rugby season would be in two blocks either side of the Six Nations – from October to mid-February and April to June – while the Super Rugby season would run between February and July, followed by the Rugby Championship in October and November. World Cups and Lions tours would slot into the August to September window. The proposal deserves serious consideration, if only to bring an end to the current ridiculous clash between the end of the European club season and major tours to the southern hemisphere. “An England tour at the end of a really tough season is very hard on players,” stressed Craig. “An extended international block later in the year would be the best solution.” |
| Prediction of the week | Prediction of the week |
| Saracens v Toulon. The last Heineken Cup final could easily be one of the best. Jonny Wilkinson v Owen Farrell, Steffon Armitage v Jacques Burger, Alex Goode v Delon Armitage....there are intriguing match-ups everywhere. Sarries have one or two fitness issues to resolve in their pack but their key man could be Billy Vunipola: if he makes dents and Sarries can use his momentum to play at a tempo that stretches Toulon’s forwards, they can secure their first European crown and ruin Jonny Wilkinson’s dream finale. Saracens by three. |