Record Fourth Heineken Cup Win For Toulouse

Heineken Cup Final: Biarritz Olympique 19 Toulouse 21

In the end there were few complaints from Biarritz, but there were joyous celebrations from Toulouse and their fans as they let the world know how proud they were to have won the Heineken Cup for a record fourth time.

It may have been close on the scoreboard, 21-19, but Toulouse were in control for large parts of the game and dominated the front five exchanges. They were brutal, determined and deserved winners.

It was a victory that meant so much to the Toulouse captain, Thierry Dusautoir, as he finally claimed a winners medal after two previous defeats in the final. But there was heartbreak again for his opposite number, Jerome Thion, who picked up his third losers medal.

Biarritz got off to a flying start and were six points clear at the end of the first quarter thanks to two penalties from Dimitri Yachvili. His metronomic boot kept his team ahead for much of the first half as his third penalty success followed a monster kick from Toulouse centre Florian Fritz from three metres inside his own half.

It was 9-3 to Biarritz after half-an-hour, but a burst of nine points in five minutes just before the break transformed the scoreboard and the game. Two quick-fire David Skrela penalties were followed by a snap drop goal from Fritz and, all of a sudden, Toulouse were three points clear at 12-9.

Biarritz may have headed to the dressing rooms with their heads bowed, but they got a lift at the start of the second half when hooker Benoit August showed off his skills in the loose.

He took a misguided Toulouse line-out throw at the tail, kicked deep into their half and then left lock Patricio Albacete trailing in his wake. As he reached the 22 and kicked ahead again, Albacete brought him to ground to earn himself a yellow card and Biarritz a penalty.

Yachvili hit the spot and the scores were tied at 12-12. The 78,962 crowd now knew they had a real game of cat and mouse on their hands and Toulouse increased the tempo as they went in search of a try.

They would surely have scored had Maxime Medard not dropped the ball 10 metres out, but instead had to rely on the trusty boot of Skrela to nurse them ahead again with two successive drop goals. The outside half then extended the lead to nine points with a penalty and, with 10 minutes to go, all that was missing was a try to crown Toulouse's victory.

A try did come, but to Biarritz. Good work on the left wing saw the ball moved back inside by Iain Balshaw and Takudzwa Ngwenya to allow Australian centre Karmichael Hunt to gallop over for a try which replacement Valentin Courrent converted.

With seven minutes left, and only two points between the two sides, there was everything to play for in a frenzied finish.

But as hard as they tried, Biarritz simply couldn't another way through the Toulouse defence and it was Guy Noves' side who carried off the Heineken Cup once again.