Aussie ‘Mohicans’ seek to bow out with title

PARIS: Wallabies Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell are amongst the “last of the Mohicans” looking to sign off their Toulon careers with one more trophy as the Top 14 comes to a climax in Paris today.

In-form Clermont, the perennial chokers, are all that stands between the Aussie duo and South Africa’s Juanne Smith, and a glorious swansong in the south of France.

Giteau is heading off to play in Japan, while Mitchell and Smith are retiring, with Argentina’s Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe’s future uncertain as he hasn’t been offered a new contract.

It means the golden generation of Toulon’s global stars that won three straight European crowns under Bernard Laporte are all but gone, with the “last of the Mohicans” looking forward to a final outing.

With Bakkies Botha, Ali Williams, Carl Hayman and the great Jonny Wilkinson already in retirement, only flying Springbok wing Bryan Habana will remain of Laporte’s stars who reigned in Europe from 2013-2015 and reached three straight Top 14 finals from 2012-2014 too.

In fact, this will be Toulon’s fifth Top 14 final in six years, although they have lifted the Bouclier de Brennus only once in that period.

With first choice fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc struggling for fitness and semi-final hero Anthony Belleau still a “work in progress” according to scrum-half Sebastien Tillous-Borde, Giteau is in the running for a rare start at the Stade de France, either at No 10 or inside centre.

He made a major impact after replacing compatriot James O’Connor at inside centre on 53 minutes in the 18-15 win over La Rochelle last weekend.

And Laporte for one cannot speak highly enough of the versatile back’s talents.

“He’s phenomenal, maybe the best player I’ve coached,” Laporte told Midi Olympique.

“In fact, that’s not the word, one should rather say manager — because Matt knows how to do everything, to perfection!”

Mitchell will likely start, even if Habana is fit to play — the South African like former New Zealand captain Ma’a Nonu missed the semi-final through injury but were back in training this week.

“Drew’s a big character with a huge ego. But most of all he’s a fierce competitor,” added Laporte, who admitted to having had several “muscular” run-ins with Mitchell over the years, not least when he dropped him for the 2015 European Champions Cup semi-finals.

“He managed to convince me to pick him for the final,” said Laporte, “and he responded in the best way possible” by scoring a mazy solo try.

As for Smith, Laporte described him as “a foot soldier, always ready for combat.”

“On the pitch, he’s a rock.” AFP