An appetite for Destruction
Glasgow’s fine run about to be tested by Wilkinson’s glitterati
IN the sun-kissed city of Toulon, rugby’s very own version of the Galacticos are gearing up for the defence of the Heineken Cup. and Glasgow Warriors are the anticipated first-course fodder for the starstudded French aristocrats.
With t heir multi- millionaire superstars sourced worldwide, the game’s glitterati include Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Giteau, Mathieu Bastareaud, Carl Hayman, ali Williams and Bakkies Botha.
Every one fully fit, the Warriors are aware they will have to live up to their own intimidating name to stand a chance of departing the south of France intact.
It might not quite be a princes versus paupers clash but, with the vast majority of Toulon’s 38 players earning over £400,000 a year and Wilkinson raking in a stellar £536,000, you could say the money is on the home men. after all, Glasgow’s top stars have to make do with £125,000 for 12 months’ work!
More alarming for Glasgow is that Toulon head coach Bernard laporte has spent wisely, assembling a side that, on paper, looks even stronger than the team that beat Clermont auvergne in last season’s final.
Their main strength is a scarily impressive forward pack that could do some real damage if they aren’t stopped in their tracks from the off.
The front-row monsters include New Zealander Hayman, who is playing so well at tighthead that he is keeping Italy’s talisman Martin Castrogiovanni from the side.
In the line- out, they boast Williams, a nother top summer signing, who will be looking to steal ball from al Kellock at every opportunity, alongside South african star Botha.
The back-row is no less impressive, the formidable Pierrick Gunther the pick of the bunch. He may not yet be a household name, but the Frenchman has started the season like a house on fire alongside experienced No 8 Chris Masoe.
Next come the backs, where there is no shortage of class and flair either, with England international Delon armitage, who will start at full-back, and brutish French centre Bastareaud sure to be leading the assault on the Glasgow line.
The big question i s who will laporte ask to run the show against Glasgow? The crucial scrum-half position is up for grabs, with Frenchman Sebastien Tillouse-Borde and South african Michael Claassens fighting for the jersey, while at stand- off it will be australia’s Giteau or Wilkinson. Not a bad problem for the coach to wrestle with.
Giteau got the nod for the 25-19 win over Clermont auvergne last weekend and put in a masterclass of fly-half play. He was also on target with six penalties from seven attempts. Scots-born Toulon legend, Phil Fitzgerald (left), feels this crucial position could decide the game. and he is adamant Wilkinson should be picked ahead of Giteau.
Fitzgerald, who played 243 times for Toulon before his retirement in 2010 — the most by a foreigner and a total that puts him 10th on their all-time list — reckons laporte will be making a huge mistake if he doesn’t start with the Englishman.
‘Giteau is an able replacement, but I think Jonny should play against Glasgow,’ said Fitzgerald, who now practises law in France. ‘He will know people in Britain will be putting a lot of focus on the game and will want to do extra well.
‘It will be a perfect stage for him to remind people how great a player he still is. He will be desperate to start and has maybe even told the coaches that. They will realise his desire to play and I expect them to pick him ahead of Giteau.
‘ That would be bad news for Glasgow. although I was fortunate to play with world-class players like George Gregan and Victor Matfield during my time at the club, in my opinion Jonny Wilkinson is head and shoulders above them all.
‘He may have been dropped, or just rested, last weekend against Clermont but, having seen him play this season, he remains at the top of his game.
‘There is talk this could be his last season at Toulon. If that is the case, he will want to be involved in the Heineken Cup from day one and help the team retain the trophy.’
as well as the quality of the opposition, the Warriors will have to deal with a hostile environment generated by a raucous home support at the Stade Mayol. But Fitzgerald feels that could actually work to Glasgow’s advantage.
‘Playing in that fiery atmosphere could i nspire — r ather t han intimidate — Glasgow. I’ve seen that happen so many times with the opposition when they come to Toulon,’ continued Fitzgerald.
‘During my time, I saw team after team raise their game against us as they f ed off the i ncredible atmosphere. and the vast majority of t he Glasgow pl ayers are internationals, who will be used to playing in front of big crowds.
‘Glasgow have nothing to lose, they will be underdogs. Toulon, t hough, will have been well briefed and won’t be complacent. Regardless of Toulon’s class, they will not underestimate the Warriors.
‘We don’t see any Pro12 rugby on television in France, but the fact Glasgow are top of the table gives an indication of how good a side they are.’
Just how good, is is t t he he big big question.