Toulon 16 Clermont Auvergne 15: Wilkinson hailed as Kennedy makes switch pay

Kennedy knew he was leaving any England ambitions behind when he swapped London Irish for the Cote d’Azur and there were times this season when he wondered if he had made the right call.

The 31-year-old initially struggled to break into the star-studded Toulon team but that setback just made Saturday’s staggering 16-15 triumph over Clermont Auvergne all the sweeter.

“I have absolutely no regrets. It is such an amazing feeling to win after everything,” said Kennedy.

“I had some difficult times this year and there were times I wondered if it was the right move but lifting that trophy has justified it all.

“It is one of the reasons I came here, to win trophies.

“To win the Heineken Cup has been a goal of mine for years and to win it with these guys is amazing.”

Clermont dominated the game in terms of possession and territory and when they surged 15-6 ahead early in the second half, with tries from Napolioni Nalaga and Brock James, it appeared Toulon were set for heartbreak.

But they refused to concede defeat. Jonny Wilkinson landed a third penalty and then converted Delon Armitage’s breakaway try to nudge Toulon into the lead.

After that, it was all hands back to the pump in defence. Toulon made a remarkable 176 tackles to Clermont’s 66 and they held on to claim a first major trophy in 21 years.

Clermont lost their composure at the death, with David Skrela seeing a drop-goal attempt charged down and Sitiveni Sivivatu blowing their last attacking chance with a forward pass into touch.

“They were clear favourites today all around Europe and I have so much respect for the boys. We showed so much heart, especially in that last five minutes,” added Kennedy.

“Everyone was shouting ‘drop goal, drop goal’ because one kick and it was over for us. For Mathieu Bastareaud to get off the line after such a tiring game was great work.”

Kennedy reserved special praise for Wilkinson, who not only combined with Bastareaud to deny Skrela but was inspirational in Toulon’s European triumph.

Wilkinson did not miss a kick in the knock-out stages, landing 17 from 17 as Toulon beat Leicester, Saracens and then tournament favourites Clermont.

Armitage admitted after the game he should have run around between the posts instead of showboating as he scored his try but such is their faith in Wilkinson that it never occurred to him.

Kennedy said: “Jonny practices so hard and he deserves everything.

“We are so grateful to him as a team because when we are at home sitting on our backsides he is out there kicking, working for moments like that.

“He hasn’t missed a kick in the quarter, semi or final. He is absolutely phenomenal.

“He should have won a lot more silverware but he is a loyal man. He was loyal to Newcastle, who were usually at the other end of the Premiership, and he is very loyal to Toulon.

“That is one of the reasons he is not going with the Lions, because he wants to be there in the (Top 14) final. Jonny loves Toulon and everyone in Toulon loves Jonny.”

Toulon have little time to celebrate their Heineken Cup triumph, with a Top 14 semi-final showdown with Toulouse looming on Friday night.

“It’s not how you start, it is how you finish,” said Kennedy.

“So far, it is just amazing. Hopefully we have two matches left (to complete the double). The guys around me are inspirational characters.”

Wilkinson described winning the Heineken Cup as a bigger achievement than his Rugby World Cup triumph 10 years ago.

“It is right up there,” said Wilkinson. “In fact, it goes beyond (winning the World Cup) because life is in the now, it is not in the past.

“The next thing you seach for, the next goal you set life just gets better and better if you are in a club as good as this.

“It has been hugely important (to win this). You ask yourselves the questions all the time whether you still merit being there, whether you still deserve to be in teams like this.

“Moments like this give you that opportunity to look at it and realise what an amazing opportunity we all have.”

Wilkinson turned down an invitation to tour with the British and Irish Lions because of his commitment to Toulon, with whom he has just signed a new one-year deal having contemplated retirement.

“I had a chat with Warren Gatland (Lions coach) and said ‘this is me now’ and because of the stage of my career he fully understood,” said Wilkinson.

Australia coach Robbie Deans has left six spaces available for the likes of Quade Cooper to make the final squad to face the British and Irish Lions after the in-form Reds playmaker failed to make the 25-man group.

Deans included three uncapped players in his squad, with code-hopper Israel Folau capping a remarkable rise for the former rugby league international after just 12 Super 15 appearances for the Waratahs since switching from Australian rules football at the start of the season.

Brumbies captain Ben Mowen and inside centre Christian Lealiifano are the other new faces in the group.

Deans said: “It is not the end of it for players who haven’t been named. There are six more places to be filled in the squad while every Super Rugby player in Australia will have the opportunity to play international rugby against the Lions during the tour matches, as will the country representative players. It’s an exciting time.”

Rory Best will lead Ireland’s 28-man squad for their tour to the United States and Canada after being overlooked by the British and Irish Lions.

The Ulster hooker leads a squad containing six uncapped players in scrum-half Kieran Marmion, centre Stuart Olding, scrum-half Paul Marshall, full-back Robbie Henshaw, prop Jamie Hagan, openside Tommy O’Donnell and hooker Mike Sherry.

Yorkshire avoided relegation from Division One North in the Bill Beaumont Cup after a 20-5 win over Durham, who now drop down. Lancashire topped the group despite losing 20-13 to second-placed Cheshire.