- La Rochelle 17-22 Toulouse
- Mallía’s try settles all-French final after Botia sees red
Past all-French European finals have failed to produce the finest foie gras and, until the latter stages, this one also struggled to deliver. In Toulouse, however, they will care little about the modest fare and rejoice instead in a final scoreline that makes them the most decorated champions in the tournament’s history.
For lengthy periods this was a niggly, ill-tempered slugging contest which only belatedly clicked up into a higher gear but for Toulouse all that counts is the fifth golden star they are now entitled to wear on their jerseys. For the first time since 1997, furthermore, French sides have lifted both European club rugby’s major competitions, a further sign of the renaissance in standards across the Channel.
