adminagainst fellow French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne.
And in doing so he might have presented an irresistible case to be part of the British and Irish Lions squad for this summer’s Australia tour less than 48 hours before it is announced.
It will be the tournament’s fourth all-French final in 11 years, and Aviva Premiership leaders Saracens —despite Wilkinson’s opposite number Owen Farrell booting four penalties — could have few complaints.
Toulon, with their Argentinian back-row forward Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe in towering form, deservedly took the spoils, with Wilkinson imperiously taking every scoring chance that came his way.
A seven-from-seven penalty return meant Toulon had a guaranteed avenue of points in their team and, with try-scoring chances few and far between, it was Wilkinson’s remarkable accuracy that made the difference.
The only disappointment was that barely 25 000 spectators witnessed it, with Twickenham more than two-thirds empty. Farrell and his midfield partner Joel Tomkins were guilty of wasting opportunities by throwing out wild passes, yet Saracens’ hopes of a domestic and European double floundered against opponents who enjoyed an edge in most departments. — SuperSport.
Online Reporter