Clermont vs La Rochelle: European Challenge Cup final preview
Last Updated: 09/05/19 4:18pm
Clermont Auvergne and La Rochelle will clash in the first all-French European Challenge Cup final for seven years on Friday.
The Top 14 clubs meet at St James' Park in Newcastle, launching a European finals weekend that continues on Saturday when Saracens and Leinster contest the Champions Cup.
Sky Sports provides you with the ultimate guide to the showdown on Tyneside.
Which club has final pedigree?
Clermont will bid for a third Challenge Cup triumph, which would equal Harlequins' tournament record if they topple first-time finalists La Rochelle.
But it has largely been a tale of disappointment in major finals for the two-time French champions.
The Yellow Army have lost 23 major finals in their history while winning just seven - their most recent in 2017 in the Top 14. Indeed, between 1936 and 2009, they lost 14 domestic French leagues.
La Rochelle were Champions Cup quarter-finalists last year, when they were knocked out by Scarlets at the same stage as Clermont, who lost to eventual runners-up Racing 92.
Sky Bet odds
In 2017, Clermont lost the Champions Cup final to Saracens in Edinburgh, but they head into the encounter as strong favourites...
Road to the final
Clermont were in imperious form during the pool stage, equalling Ospreys' 2016-17 achievement by winning all six games with bonus points.
They followed that up by knocking out quarter-final opponents Northampton 61-38, then reached the final through a 31-27 victory over Quins.
La Rochelle's route to Newcastle has not been as straightforward, losing to Bristol in their group before meeting - and beating - them in the last eight, and then edging past Sale Sharks.
Azema seeks Challenge Cup double
Clermont rugby director Franck Azema lined up in the centre when his team beat Bourgoin in the 1999 Challenge Cup showpiece.
And it is another all-French affair for the first time since 2012 when Biarritz defeated Toulon.
"Right from the start of the season, we have respected this competition. Everyone has done their job," Azema told EPCR.
"The story of this European campaign is that we have been on a journey that now allows us to have the right to contest this final.
"We want to win it, and we have the hunger. We know there is this opportunity there now."
'La Rochelle have nothing to lose'
Co-captain Romain Sazy said: "We have done everything to reach the final - this is now a bonus.
"We understand the magnitude of the event. We will be supported by Rochelais fans in Newcastle, at Deflandre and by all those in front of their televisions. We will give everything to bring back something for them."
Centre Geoffrey Doumayrou added: "We have nothing to lose. We must not be nervous. The match is going to be much harder than usual, so we will need to be even more accurate and even more disciplined."
Toeava back to lift Clermont
Clermont are without former England full-back Nick Abendanon because of a neck injury while Scotland scrum-half Greig Laidlaw has been named on the bench.
Franck Azema has decided to trust the same players that overcame Harlequins in the semi-finals as Clermont look to improve on their wretched record in European Cup finals.
Full-back Isaia Toeava is the only exception having recovered from a shoulder injury, but there are no other changes to the side that beat Quins 32-27 at the Stade Marcel Michelin last month.
Davit Zirakashvili provides a further boost by returning to take his place on the list of replacements, alongside the in-form Apisai Naqalevu.
The back-row combination of Fritz Lee, Arthur Iturria and Alexandre Lapandry forces Peceli Yato to settle for a place in the bench as Clermont seek to win only an eighth win in major finals.
How will La Rochelle cope without Vito?
Reaching the Challenge Cup final represents a major achievement for La Rochelle - but they now must put aside the 16-point deficit to their opponents in the Top 14 to lift their first piece of major silverware.
Jono Gibbes' men will have to overcome the loss of influential captain Victor Vito, who has been ruled out with a dead leg, paving the way for France international Gregory Alldritt to start at number eight.
Kevin Gourdon and Wiaan Liebenberg complete the back row while Gibbes, who spent three seasons as forwards coach at Clermont under Azema, has no other injury concerns.
Kini Murimurivalu's absence behind the scrum means Vincent Rattez starts at full-back, with Arthur Retiere and Marc Andreu completing the back three.
Pierre Aguillon and Geoffrey Doumayrou are selected in midfield as the versatile Levani Botia is named among the replacements.
Team news
Clermont: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 George Moala, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Alivereti Raka, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra (c); 1 Etienne Falgoux, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 3 Rabah Slimani, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 5 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 6 Arthur Iturria, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 8 Fritz Lee.
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Beka Kakabadze, 18 Davit Zirakashvili, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Peceli Yato, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 Tim Nanai-Williams, 23 Apisai Naqalevu.
La Rochelle: 15 Vincent Rattez, 14 Arthur Retiere, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Pierre Aguillon, 11 Marc Andreu, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Tawera Kerr Barlow; 1 Dany Priso, 2 Jean-Charles Orioli, 3 Uini Atonio, 4 Romain Sazy (c), 5 Mathieu Tanguy, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 7 Kevin Gourdon, 8 Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: 16 Pierre Bourgarit, 17 Vincent Pelo, 18 Arthur Joly, 19 Thomas Jolmes, 20 Zeno Kieft, 21 Alexi Bales, 22 Jerémy Sinzelle, 23 Levani Botia.
Match stats
- La Rochelle are bidding to become the 16th club and the eighth Top 14 club to win the Challenge Cup in their first final appearance.
- Clermont have the chance of recording an unbeaten, nine-game Challenge Cup campaign for the second time, after completing the feat in 2006/07.
- La Rochelle are the only side with a 100 per cent scrum success rate, winning all 45 scrums on their own feed.
- Clermont's Peter Betham is the top try-scorer this season with 10 and if he crosses the white-wash in the final, he will eclipse Tom Varndell's record of 10 tries in a Challenge Cup campaign for Wasps in 2009/10.
- Both sides have stolen more line-outs than any other team in the competition this season (La Rochelle 15; Clermont 12).
