Mauvaka double inspires Toulouse to fourth-straight Top 14 in storm-impacted final / Photo: Anne-Christine POUJOULAT - AFP
Mauvaka double inspires Toulouse to fourth-straight Top 14 in storm-impacted final
Hooker Peato Mauvaka scored twice as Toulouse held on to beat Montpellier 28-20 for a record-equalling fourth-straight French Top 14 rugby title in a final interrupted by a thunderstorm.
France front-rower Mauvaka crossed in a dominant first half to set the 25-time champions on their way before the game was stopped for 12 minutes just before the hour mark.
Toulouse's generation between 1994 and 1997 as well as Bordeaux 1904-1907 have also won the Bouclier de Brennus (Brennus Shield) in four consecutive seasons.
Montpellier, champions in 2022, were a different team after the break with Argentina centre Justo Piccardo and replacement fly-half Leo Coly crossing in their failed attempt at a comeback.
The game started in sweltering conditions with France experiencing record heat with temperatures reaching 34C at kick-off in northern Paris.
French president Emmanuel Macron whistled by the crowd as he entered the pitch to meet the players as part of the pre-match protocol.
Toulouse head coach Ugo Mola named Thomas Ramos on the bench after the goal-kicking full-back missed last Friday's 71-17 semi-final hammering of Racing 92 with a hamstring issue.
Antoine Dupont started after sitting out last season's nerve-wracking decider, won in extra-time over Bordeaux-Begles, with a serious knee injury and is expected to join France's Nations Championship early next week.
Montpellier boss Joan Caudullo kept the same matchday squad from last Saturday's 25-15 semi-final win over Stade Francais with in-form fly-half Domingo Miotti and No 8 Billy Vunipola starting.
By the first drinks break after a quarter of the game, Toulouse led 7-0 as Mauvaka strolled over 50m out dummying Donovan Taofifenua on his way after a subtle lineout move including Dupont.
Toulouse took control of the game and put one hand on the Bouclier de Brennus, first awarded in 1892, by half-time.
Mauvaka claimed his double from short range thanks to another Dupont pass before the half-back crossed himself to make it 25-6 after a break from full-back Blair Kinghorn, standing in for Ramos as Ntamack nailed a penalty.
Rain and a thunderstorm welcomed the teams back from the interval, which seemed to benefit Caudullo's side, owned by Syria-born billionaire Mohed Altrad.
They cut the score to 28-13 just before the hour as Justo Piccardo powered over before the 12-minute weather-enforced break.
Referee Luc Ramos ordered the players into the changing rooms for an extended drinks break, which also provided a spark for Montpellier.
With 16 minutes left Coly, a second-half replacement for Miotti, found space to score and his conversion made it 28-20 but they left themselves too much to do after a slow start to the game.
P.Rossi--IM
