The word “historic” is often overused when it comes to sporting triumphs, but there can be no doubt that will be the case for whoever wins tonight’s EPCR Challenge Cup Final as Glasgow Warriors take on Toulon.
Should Glasgow win, they will become the first Scottish club to win a European trophy, while Toulon will hope they can finally lay their hands on the Challenge Cup having lost four previous finals, already more than any other club in history.
Glasgow boss Franco Smith said: “I’m excited for the boys coming out into this arena and it just underlines the importance of this game and also how far they’ve come this season. There’s a general feel of excitement and now it’s to manage that excitement into actions.
“Our main theme is to make Scotland and Glasgow proud and these guys have gone about their business in that way. If we come off the field with a win it will be absolutely fantastic and we’ll think about the accolades after that.”
Both sides have been in the tournament for the duration, with Toulon finishing top and Glasgow finishing second in Pool A.
And since the pool stages they have advanced through the next rounds with some comfort. Glasgow have won their knockout ties by an average margin of 22.66, while Toulon have won theirs by 21.
For Glasgow it has been built on exciting and at times brilliant attacking play, that has seen them score an average of 46.33 points, while Toulon’s resolute defence has seen them concede just an average of less than 15 per game.
It seems a classic case of an unstoppable force coming up against an immovable object, but Toulon also carry a major attacking threat having scored an average of more than four tries per game this season in the tournament.
Glasgow will hope their own attacking threat is inspired by the centre pairing of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, the Scotland duo that linked up to both earn places in the Six Nations team of the tournament in 2023 and the United Rugby Championship Elite XV for 2022/23.
With Tom Jordan suspended Domingo Miotti will be wearing the number 10 inside them, who will have a fascinating battle against Dan Biggar, one of a catalogue of current and former internationals turning out for three-time Champions Cup winners Toulon.
South African star Cheslin Kolbe starts at full-back with France regular Charles Ollivon captaining from openside flanker, and Ollivon will be joined in the back row by Sergio Parrisse, who plays his last professional game after a distinguished career at the domestic and international level.
Ahead of the game, Parisse said: “I am just trying to enjoy every single moment and I am really happy to have the opportunity again to play a cup final with Toulon. For me it is a joy, it is an opportunity and it is a privilege.
“But it is a team sport and it is not about individuals. A final is a 50-50 game. Glasgow are a good team, they deserve to be in the final and in a final it doesn’t matter if you play good rugby or not – you must win.”
TEAMS
Glasgow: Ollie Smith, Sebastian Cancelliere, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Steyn, Domingo Miotti, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerso, JP du Preez, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Sione Vailanu, Jack Dempsey
Substitutes: Johnny Matthews, Nathan McBeth, Simon Berghan, Richie Gray, Lewis Bean, Rory Darge, Ali Price, Stafford McDowall
Toulon: Cheslin Kolbe, Jiuta Naqoli Wainiqolo, Waisea Vuidravuwalu, Duncan Paia’aua, Gabin Villiere, Dan Biggar, Baptiste Serin; Dany Priso, Teddy Baubigny, Beka Gigashvili, Mathieu Tanguy, Brian Alainu’uese, Cornell Du Preez, Charles Ollivon, Sergio Parisse
Substitutes: Christopher Tolofua, Jean Baptiste Gros, Kieran Brookes, Facundo Isa, Mathieu Bastareaud, Benoit Paillaugue, Ihaia West, Jeremy Sinzelle
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