The defeated team have played a season of incredible rugby but that was not enough to help them in this final even if they managed an incredible second-half performance with a scintillating try by Nick Abendanon, but that still wasn’t enough. A top rugby tipster believes that Toulon managed to edge this final thanks to key players of the likes of Ali Williams, Chris Masoe, Juan Smith and the incredible Leigh Halfpenny but Drew Mitchell’s try was a piece of skill which will remain in the minds of many. The former All Black Ali Williams, who will retire at the end of the season declared after the match: “Today was unbelievable because as a team we haven’t been playing together for that long and in two to three years we have achieved so much. I feel great playing with these guys, I have so much respect for them as they do with me, and we all play in manner that won’t let each other down.”
The best rugby predictions though would suggest that there have been some interesting performances from the English players on show, Abendanon and Toulon flanker Steffon Armitage, with Clermont’s full-back playing at another level and even if the rules that would not allow them to be selected (as they play abroad), are still in place, one can be sure that they will be changed before the World Cup squad is announced. Abendanon is incredibly dangerous when attacking and his moment of pure talent came in the second half of the match, when he scored that superb individual try, chipping ahead and collecting it to score. Throughout the match, Armitage’s carrying became more and more influential as the game wore on, and one superb break at the start of the second half, could have led to a try but Matt Giteau could not finish it off. “We knew it was going to be a very difficult match,” Armitage said. “We knew that the most important thing for us was our defence and we would have to be very careful not to give away any penalties.” Toulon’s star performer though was Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny who converted and kicked 14 points in total and said after the match: “This is the type of game you want to be involved in. Games likes this one are what one dreams of playing, and what a performance from the boys.” At the final whistle there were players lying around all over the pitch and after a wonderful match with the best of French and European rugby on display a rugby betting expert was ready to place his money on their being another French victory in 2016, anyone agree?