Ireland cast-off on air with Heineken win

Toulouse 22, Perpignan 17

Grinning from ear to ear, punching the air with one hand and a steady grip on the trophy with the other, Brennan might have been seeking out national coach Eddie O'Sullivan.

Somehow, you got the feeling that he had other things on his mind. This week at least, Brennan probably doesn't give a damn about the green jersey. He will be too busy celebrating in the South of France.

Eyebrows were raised when Brennan packed his bags at the end of last season. Was he really the type of player Toulouse, the aristocrats of French running rugby, needed? Would his poor disciplinary record rear its ugly head? Would the journey end in tears?

On the first count the answer was a clear yes. On all others, a definite no. With this, their second Heineken Cup victory, Toulouse have provided absolute proof that French teams are coming to grips and learning how to compete in this tournament.

On Saturday, before 28,000 fans at Lansdowne Road, they mixed their usual flair game with a vigorous display of demonic defence. It was that defence, not the flair, that ultimately won them the match.

Coach Guy Noves is in no doubt that Brennan was an inspirational figure in the victory and indeed in the entire campaign.

"We needed a tough, rugged player to get us back to basics. That's why we signed Trevor. He gives 100%, leads from the front and is a great example to the other players. We spent a couple of seasons trying to figure out how best to play in this tournament. We never had doubts about our playing ability, but we needed something more. Trevor gave us that."

As a 41-man Irish squad prepares to head for Australia, Tonga and Samoa, Brennan will be back in France helping Toulouse figure out how to add the French Championship title to the Heineken Cup after a night or two of celebration of course.

"I suppose I'll be allowed have a few pints now," he gushed after breaking through a cordon of supporters to reach the safety of the dressing rooms. "It has been a great day. It has been a great season and it's not over yet. We have other targets to aim for now. The French Championship is a huge competition for all concerned. I know how important it is for the club to win it and I will give it my best shot."

Circumstances were such that the attendance was the second lowest in the history of the Heineken Cup but the organisers and Brennan were happy enough. "The ground may not have been full, but there was still a great atmosphere. The noise was incredible from our point of view," said Brennan.

"From a personal point of view, it was great to have an opportunity to play in front of so many members of my family and my friends. Winning was the icing on the cake."

The closing stages were, however, tense ones for Brennan who was replaced by Finau Maka in the 68th minute.

Toulouse led 19-0 at the break but that lead was gradually eroded as Perpignan sharpshooter Manny Edmonds rifled over four second-half penalties. "I was seriously worried that they might take us to extra-time when anything could have happened. Thankfully, we got another score and that was enough."

Brennan was particularly pleased with the Toulouse first-half display, the opportunities created and taken. Yann Delaigue knocked over penalties in the second, 17th and 27th minutes as Toulouse prospered with the wind at their backs.

Yannick Jauzion made the most telling break of the period nine minutes from the break and Vincent Clerc ran in unopposed for the opening try, converted by the unerring Delaigue. When Delaigue added a further 39th minute penalty, it should have been game, set and match.

Perpignan, however, had other ideas. Although suffering from line out difficulties throughout, a problem they hope Mick O'Driscoll will rectify next season, they gradually clawed their way back into the contest.

Edmonds kicked penalties in the 3rd, 11th, 17th and 30th minutes of the half to set up a mouth-watering finale.

Unfortunately, they never really got on top of the Toulouse defence and then conceded an injury time penalty to Delaigue. Brennan was on his feet from the bench as the ball dropped over the bar.

Edmonds finally managed to unlock the Toulouse rearguard with a magnificent punt to the corner to allow Pascal Bomati in for the try. It was a magnificently created score, but the out half struck the upright with his conversion. In any event, it was all a case of too little, too late.

TOULOUSE: C. Poitrenaud, E. Ntamack, X Garbajosa, Y. Jauzion, V. Clerc, Y. Delaigue, F. Michalak, B. Lecouls, Y. Bru, J.B. Poux, D. Gerard, F. Pelous (captain), T. Brennan, C. Labit, J. Bouilhou. Replacements. F. Maka for Brennan (68), C. Soulette for Poux (73).

PERPIGNAN: J. M. Souverbie, P. Bomati, P. Giordani, C. Manas, F. Cermeno, M. Edmonds, L. Loustau, R. Peillard, M. Konieckiewicz, N. Mas, J. Thion, R. Alvarez Kairelis, G. Le Corvec, P. Murphy, B. Goutta (captain). Replacements. M. Dal Maso for Konieckiewicz (58), S. De Besombes for Mas (62), L. Mallier for Murphy (64).

Referee: C. White (England). Replacement, T. Spreadbury (England)