Saracens coach Mark McCall has told his side they must contain Australia’s Matt Giteau if they are to beat Toulon in today’s European Cup final in Cardiff.
The buildup to the match has been dominated by the imminent retirement of Toulon flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, with the England great — 35 tomorrow — set to bow out from all rugby following next weekend’s French Top 14 final against Castres.
Saracens, in their first European Cup final, are also eyeing a “double” ahead of their English Premiership final with Northampton.
Wilkinson’s remorseless goalkicking was responsible for all of reigning European champions Toulon’s points in their 24-12 semi-final win over Saracens last season.
However, McCall has been impressed too by the 31-year-old center Giteau, who won the last of his 92 Wallaby caps three years ago. “He [Giteau] is a very special player, because he has got not only a fantastic passing game, he kicks the ball well, he is stronger and quicker than most people think,” McCall said.
“And he’s at his most dangerous when he is at the line with a winger on his inside, and you cannot take your eye off him for a second, he is a superb player,” he added.
Giteau, for his part, would just like to help one-time rival Wilkinson go out on a high.
“Jonny is the ultimate professional,” said Giteau, a member of the Australia side beaten by Wilkinson’s boot in the 2007 World Cup quarter-finals in Marseille, and a temporary replacement when the England star’s extra-time drop-goal downed the Wallabies in a thrilling Sydney final four years earlier.
“It is incredibly important for us to have him sign off with a trophy. He was instrumental in helping me settle in Toulon when I joined three years ago... It has been a pleasure to be in the same team,” Giteau added.
It has not always been so for those opposing Wilkinson, as McCall knows only too well.
“Jonny kicked 24 points last year, one was a drop-goal and the rest were penalties,” McCall said. “Six of those penalties we gave away when we were in possession of the ball. There’s a lesson for us in that, it’s very important when you play Jonny Wilkinson and Toulon how you approach the game, and where you play.”
He added that Saracens needed to keep in mind the approach of referee Alain Rolland, for whom today’s match will be the last before the Irishman hangs up his whistle.
“Alain Rolland gives penalties quickly against the ball carrier, so you have got to be accurate when you go into contact,” McCall said.
“There is this common view out there of how to beat Toulon, just to move their big men around and play with tempo — and everyone who has done that has come up short. So you have got to have other plans and find ways of stressing them, taking away their energy and moving their big men around in a different kind of way,” he said.
Meanwhile Wilkinson has, typically, tried to remove himself from the spotlight by saying: “I would like to focus all my attention and energy on the team and these final two games of the season.”
Toulon, bankrolled by wealthy publisher Mourad Boudjellal, boast a star-studded team, with South Africa wing Bryan Habana joining Wilkinson and Giteau in the backs, while up front they boast formidable locks in Springbok Bakkies Botha and All Black Ali Williams.
In some ways their side is reminiscent of the one Saracens, still backed by millionaire businessman Nigel Wray, fielded in the early days of professional rugby union when South Africa’s Francois Pienaar, Australia’s Michael Lynagh and France’s Philippe Sella all played for the north-London club.
However, McCall was in no doubt that Toulon, coached by former France boss Bernard Laporte, were a star side, not a side full of stars.
“There are examples of teams who have spent a lot of money, or brought in stars, and then not delivered,” the former Ireland international said. “But Toulon seem to have chosen very well, with the squad they have got they have a great togetherness, spirit and camaraderie, and on top of that they are all good players.”
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