- Toulouse to win by 1-7 points (11/4, Paddy Power)
- Exactly 2 tries in the match (100/30, skybet)
- Drop goal in the match - yes (11/4, Paddy Power)
Having ruined Leinster’s hopes of becoming the first team to win six European Cups in the semi-finals, La Rochelle will attempt to do the same to five-time winners Toulouse.
La Rochelle answered all the questions of them by producing a performance that stunned previously all-conquering Leinster.
Second-half tries from Gregory Alldritt and Will Skelton as well as 22 points from La Rochelle fly-half Ihaia West secured success for the French outfit, who outplayed the Irish province in the latter stages with clinical attacking play as well as a superb defensive effort.
But can they back it up against a Toulouse side that has pedigree equally as impressive as the Irish province in the final?
Recent all-French affairs suggest that there will be little between the teams, but Les Rouges at Noirs have shown in beating Clermont and Bordeaux-Begles they are adept at grinding out wins.
Tellingly, all six of Toulouse’s appearances in European Cup finals have been tight with an average winning margin of less than four points, and this one is unlikely to be any different. Only once did they fall on the wrong side of the scoreline, and that was because of Clement Poitrenaud’s moment of madness.
Returning to Twickenham as Toulouse attack coach will bring back all the bad memories of when the former full-back dawdled and dawdled and let Rob Howley snatch victory away from his side.
With so many matchwinners on either side, it would be a crying shame, and against the current trend for entertaining matches, if this one were to remain tryless.
One for either side with a drop goal to settle the outcome might not be a bad shout in the scoring markets.
Only two drop goals have been kicked in this season’s Champions Cup but La Rochelle were responsible for one of them – from the boot of Ihaia West in the semi-final win over Leinster.
La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara struck a few in his time and will be alive to the posibilities that a cheeky three points can bring.
La Rochelle:
15. Brice Dulin, 14. Dillyn Leyds, 13. Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12. Levani Botia, 11. Raymond Rhule, 10. Ihaia West, 9. Tawera Kerr Barlow, 1. Dany Priso, 2. Pierre Bourgarit, 3. Uini Atonio, 4. Romain Sazy (c), 5. Will Skelton, 6. Grégory Alldritt, 7. Kevin Gourdon, 8. Victor Vito.
Replacements: 16. Facundo Bosch, 17. Reda Wardi, 18. Arthur Joly, 19. Thomas Lavault, 20. Wiaan Liebenberg, 21. Paul Boudehent, 22. Arthur Retiere, 23. Jules Plisson,
Toulouse:
15. Maxime Médard, 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Juan Cruz Mallía, 12. Pita Ahki, 11. Matthis Lebel, 10. Romain Ntamack, 9. Antoine Dupont (c), 1. Cyril Baille, 2. Peato Mauvaka, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Richie Arnold, 6. Rynhardt Elstadt, 7. Francois Cros, 8. Jerome Kaino.
Replacements: 16. Guillaume Marchand, 17. Clément Castets, 18. David Ainu’u, 19. Joe Tekori, 20. Thibaud Flament, 21. Selevasio Tolofua, 22. Baptiste Germain, 23. Thomas Ramos.
