DUBLIN: Jonny Wilkinson showed trademark nerves of steel to kick Toulon to glory over Clermont in a tense European Cup final.
Ten years after kicking England to World Cup glory, the 33-year-old fly-half’s left foot did the trick once again, converting Delon Armitage’s 65th minute try to put Toulon ahead for the first time in the match.
Clermont had looked favourites to be crowned European champions on their first appearance in the final, leading 15-6 after 50 minutes, but Armitage’s try turned the tie on its head, and Bernard Laporte’s men withstood a late barrage to hold out for a famous win.
Wilkinson, one of five English players in Toulon’s team, finally added the elusive European title to his World Cup and Six Nations winners medals.
It was all worth it when the final whistle blew at Lansdowne Road, but for so long it appeared as if the day would belong to Clermont.
They dominated a low scoring first half, where a penalty apiece from Morgan Parra and Wilkinson were the only scores registered.
Clermont were the more inventive of the two sides, with Sitiveni Sivivatu, Lee Byrne and Aurelien Rougerie enjoying plenty of possession, but it was a half that lacked any moments of class or precision.
As the clock ticked by, Clermont turned up the pressure but man-of-the-match Mathieu Basteraud, Andrew Sheridan and Bakkies Botha were immense in defence for Toulon. AFP
