Wilkinson inspires Toulon to glory

ASM Clermont Auvergne 15 Toulon 16

One only has to recall the dominance Ireland enjoyed in Edinburgh during this year’s Six Nations and the fact that Scotland won the game to know that it’s not the amount of territory and possession you enjoy but what you do with it that really counts.

And so it was on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium, where red-hot Heineken Cup favourites ASM Clermont Auvergne bossed the game but somehow managed to miss out on their Holy Grail of European glory to fellow first-time finalists Toulon. Clermont were faultless at the set-piece, enjoyed 68% of possession and 75% of territory, made 21 offloads, beat Toulon defenders 24 times and forced them to make 176 tackles.