Back-to-back titles for super Toulon
Jonny Wilkinson's final match on British soil ended with the sweet taste of back-to-back Heineken Cup titles by defeating Saracens 23-6.
Toulon felt every bit a team packed full of world class players, exemplified through Juan Smith's try on the 60-minute mark that cut Saracens off.
Wilkinson naturally was supreme, striking the ball as well as we've ever seen the former England fly-half do so. Back-to-back Heineken Cup titles is the most fitting of conclusions to his incredible career, with possibly one more trophy to come in Paris next week.
Toulon though are not all about Wilkinson. The work of Steffon Armitage and Smith was astonishing in the turnover and tackling departments; Test level quality from Test level players. Matt Giteau's storming season was capped with a moment of genius for the opening try.
Saracens were full of appetite and endeavour but faded in the second half once Toulon tightened their muscular grip on the collisions and breakdown. They were blown away in the second half.
Owen Farrell's departure 20 minutes from time felt like a white flag, although their participation in this year's tournament will always be remembered for what they produced against Clermont at Twickenham. They will be aiming to hit the heights of that performance when they return their next weekend to face Northampton.
Although final farewells will be said to Wilkinson and Steve Borthwick next weekend when Toulon and Saracens contest their domestic finals, this felt like goodbye.
Goodbye too to the Heineken Cup; 18 years on from the first final held in this same city and one which, regardless of its imperfections logistically, has provided spectacular entertainment year-on-year without fail.
This was more brutal that classicly entertaining, played on a knife-edge that initially damaged the game's flow and tested the patience of the retiring referee Alain Rolland until Matt Giteau turned the key in the lock.
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