European Professional Club Rugby | On the way to Marseille: that day when Wilkinson gave RC Toulon their second final…
Whereas the 2022 EPCR finalsorganized at the Vélodrome stadium, is fast approaching, we suggest that you come back to some of the biggest European matches played in Marseille. Today, RC Toulon is in the spotlight for its victorious semi-final, in 2014, against Munster Rugby.
RC Toulon 24 Munster Rugby 16
The game’s only try came in the second half from Munster wing three-quarter Simon Zebo, but Toulon were never detached in a game that saw Jonny Wilkinson score 21 and Delon Armitage net a 55-yard penalty .
It was Wilkinson’s boot that gave the RCT the lead after five minutes. The number 10 exchanged penalties with his counterpart Ian Keatley. The French kept the lead in the first half to reach the break with an 18-9 lead.
Munster are faulted to give their opponent six points in their own 22 from the restart and failed to make the most of Juan Fernandez Lobbe’s yellow card for a kick on Conor Murray. Armitage’s sensitivity from 55 yards was the final act of the first half, giving the RCT a nine-point lead. But Munster fought back in the second half.
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Simon Zebo pushed Steffon Armitage to the fault before breaking through the Toulon defense for a try converted by Keatley along the touchline to reduce the gap to two points (18-16) 27 minutes from the final whistle .
Munster would then free themselves and increase their pressure on the RCT defense. But the Irish conceded another faculty when Keith Earls was penalized for a foul without the ball on David Smith allowing Wilkinson to find the posts.
The Toulon flyhalf was expected to be on the verge of a drop but James Coughlan defended perfectly to save his team. Munster made every effort to register a new test by multiplying the offensives but the defense of Toulon never broke.
Wilkinson had the last laugh with a penalty in the 79th minute, for a total of 100 points at this point in the season, and hoist the RCT in the final of the European Cup! Toulon beat Saracens, 23-6, at the Stade de la Principality, thus remembering the second of their three consecutive European crowns.
- The EPCR Challenge Cup final will take place on Friday May 27 before the big Champions Cup event on Saturday May 28. Buy your tickets for the matches at the Stade Vélodrome HERE !