Former Wallabies playmaker Matt Giteau can cap a stellar debut season for Toulon with an upset victory over heavyweights Toulouse in the French rugby championship final at Stade de France on Saturday (Sunday AEST).
Unwanted by Australia coach Robbie Deans for last year’s World Cup, Giteau has been a key member of the Toulon team while playing at inside centre outside England great Jonny Wilkinson.
He’s one of three Australians amid the foreign contingent in the Top 14 title decider, alongside teammate Luke Rooney and Toulouse’s former Wallabies halfback Luke Burgess.
Giteau and Rooney get their second crack at some silverware after being denied when beaten 21-18 by fellow French club Biarritz last month in the final of the European Challenge Cup, rugby’s equivalent of soccer’s Europa League.
With Wilkinson misfiring at times with the boot, Giteau’s goalkicking, often the subject of conjecture during his 92-Test international career, has been a key factor in Toulon’s charge to their first French championship final since 1992.
Toulon, who won the title in 1931, 1987 and 1992, will be up against a Toulouse side led by national captain Thierry Dusautoir which is hunting for an unrivalled 19th title.
“Gonna b massive game,” said Giteau on Twitter (sic).
“Training well but u never know til the day…”
Wilkinson, who kicked England to World Cup glory in 2003 over an Australian side that included Giteau, said he was looking forward to another pressure final.
“I am astonished to be going back to the Stade de France for the final, it is somewhere I haven’t been for a while!” said the 33-year-old, who retired from international rugby after last year’s World Cup.
“It’s going to be an extraordinary experience. I can’t wait for it.”
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