Fijian Wingers Shine In T14 Final
Raka scores Clermont’s winner, Tuisova ran in Toulon’s only try
Flamboyant Fijian rugby winger Alifereti Raka scored Clermont’s lone try as they beat Toulon 22-16 in the Top 14 final in Paris, France yesterday morning (Fijian time). According to Planet Rugby, it was a titanic tussle of a match with a number of injuries, as this went right down to the wire at the Stade de France.
Clermont led 16-10 at the break thanks to a try from Raka and three penalties from the boot of Morgan Parra, with Toulon’s score coming from burly Fijian winger Josua Tuisova.
A tense second half followed, Parra trading penalties with first Anthony Belleau and then François Trinh-Duc, with Toulon in position to strike from a driving maul into overtime. It wasn’t to be, Clermont winning a turnover penalty to seal a dramatic triumph. Clermont burst out of the gate, forcing Toulon back towards their own line until Damien Chouly knocked on in the tackle. Toulon’s scrum buckled, Marcel van der Merwe penalised, with Parra making it 3-0.
Toulon looked to be close to hitting back with points of their own, before the ball was ripped out of Romain Taofifenua’s hands. Damien Penaud, the hugely talented young centre, raced away and combined with Raka to score a sensational breakaway try.
Parra added to that lead in the 21st minute with a second penalty to make the score 13-0, with Toulon not getting a foothold in the match until after half an hour thanks to a strike from Belleau, the hero from the semi-final.
The match threatened to turn in Toulon’s favour after Clermont lose Fritz Lee to a yellow card for a high shot on James O’Connor. Rather than go for the posts, Toulon opted for the lineout, Ma’a Nonu’s big run leading to a spectacular finish in the corner from Tuisova, powering through Raka, Penaud and Nick Abendanon. Belleau impressively converted from the touchline, to cut the lead to 13-10. Flying Fijian flanker Peceli Yato came in a sub for Clermont as they continued the momentum as Parra had the final say of the half, adding his third penalty to give Clermont a six-point buffer going into the break.
Clermont however were suffering, with both locks in Arthur Iturria and Sitaleki Timani heading off injured, as Belleau hit back for Toulon to make the score 16-13.
Needing a boost, Raka’s sensational break lifted Clermont leading to a fourth penalty for Parra, as veteran centre Aurélien Rougerie entered the fray for youngster Penaud.
Belleau had the chance to respond, his latest penalty effort coming back off the post, and then with a sense of déjà vu the same thing happened again with his next effort, six points missed. This was also a game of farewells for Toulon, with Drew Mitchell and Juan Smith departing in the second half ahead of their retirements. Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, who came off the bench, is also expected to hang up his boots. Despite Clermont’s six-point advantage the game felt far tighter, the weight of past failures resting on Clermont’s shoulders.
Off the bench for Belleau, Trinh-Duc made no mistake with his turn off the kicking tee to cut the gap to three. But Clermont’s response was instant, Parra winning a vital turnover and then knocking over the resulting penalty to make it 22-16. With five minutes to go it was Clermont within touching distance off of a second Top 14 title, but a Toulon attack created by Mathieu Bastareaud’s break put Toulon in position to snatch the win.
They couldn’t pull it off, as Clermont clung on to spark incredible scenes of celebration among the supporters and players.
Scorers Clermont: Try: Raka, Con: Parra, Pens: Parra 5, Yellow Card: Lee. Toulon: Try: Tuisova, Con: Belleau, Pens: Belleau 2, Trinh-Duc Line-up
Clermont: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 David Strettle, 13 Damian Penaud, 12 Rémi Lamerat, 11 Alivereti Raka, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Judicaël Cancoriet, 6 Damien Chouly (c), 5 Sitaleki Timani, 4 Arthur Iturria, 3 David Zirakashvili, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Raphaël Chaume
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Etienne Falgoux, 18 Paul Jedrasiak, 19 Peceli Yato, 20 Ludovic Radosavljevic, 21 Patricio Fernandez, 22 Aurélien Rougerie, 23 Aaron Jarvis
Toulon: 15 James O’Connor, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Sébastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Liam Gill, 7 Duane Vermeulen (c), 6 Juan Smith, 5 Romain Taofifenua, 4 Juandré Kruger, 3 Marcel Van der Merwe, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Laurent Delboulbès
Replacements: 16 Anthony Etrillard, 17 Xavier Chiocci, 18 Mamuka Gorgodze, 19 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, 20 François Trinh-Duc, 21 Matt Giteau, 22 Eric Escande, 23 Levan Chilachava Edited by Paula Tuvuki