The 2010 Heineken Cup Final was the final match of the 2009–10 Heineken Cup, the 15th season of Europe's top club rugby union competition. The match was played on 22 May 2010 at Stade de France, Saint-Denis north of Paris.[1] It was contested by Biarritz and Toulouse, both from France. Toulouse won the final by 21–19, and for a record fourth time in fifteen seasons of the competition.[2][3]
Background
The Heineken Cup was established by the Five Nations Committee in 1995 to provide a new level of professional cross border competition. Clubs from the Premiership Rugby, Pro14Super 10 and the Top 14 leagues qualified for the competition based on their performance in their national leagues.[4] In 2014, the competition was replaced by the European Rugby Champions Cup after negotiations between English and French clubs who withdrew from the tournament because of governance, qualifying rules and distribution of income were completed.[5]
Toulouse reached the final after a 26–16 win against defending championsLeinster in the semi-final[6]Biarritz got to the final after defeating Munster 18–7 in their semi final.[7]Toulouse previously won the trophy in 1996, 2003, and 2005. This was their sixth final in total. This was Biarritz's second final after being runner's up in 2006.
Build Up
On 18 May 2010, it was announced that Biarritz centre Damien Traille had lost his battle to be fit for the final after failing to recover in time from a fractured forearm.[8]Imanol Harinordoquy, who played with a broken nose and rib injury in the semi-final was fit to play and started at number 8.[9]
Toulouse coach Guy Noves was aiming to guide them to a record fourth Heineken Cup title since he took over in 1993. This was a first European final for Biarritz's joint coaching team of Jack Isaac and former France hooker and prop Jean-Michel Gonzalez.[10]
Match
Summary
At the end of the first quarter of the game Biarritz were six points clear after two successful penalties from Dimitri Yachvili. His third penalty success followed a penalty kick from Toulouse centre Florian Fritz who scored from three metres inside his own half. It was 9–3 to Biarritz after half-an-hour, but nine points in five minutes just before the break for Toulouse transformed the scoreboard. Two David Skrela penalties were followed by a drop goal from Florian Fritz to put Toulouse three points clear at 12–9 at half time.
At the start of the second half Biarritz hooker Benoit August took a Toulouse line-out throw at the tail, Patricio Albacete brought him down inside the twenty two to earn a yellow card and give Biarritz a penalty.
Dimitri Yachvili scored the penalty and the scores were tied at 12–12. David Skrela then put Toulouse ahead again with two successive drop goals, and the outside half then extended the lead to nine points with another penalty. A try then came from Biarritz when centre Karmichael Hunt scored, which replacement Valentin Courrent successfully converted.
With seven minutes left there was only two points between the two sides, but Biarritz simply couldn't find a way through the Toulouse defence again and it was Toulouse that won the Heineken Cup for the fourth time with a two-point victory.
