Jonny Wilkinson in first Euro final
AFTER 13 years of trying Jonny Wilkinson finally gets the chance to play in a European final after spearheading Toulon’s 19-12 victory over Connacht last night.
It was the fourth time England’s World Cup-winning outside-half had reached the semi-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup but he had been beaten in all three previous outings with Newcastle Falcons.
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Wilkinson’s 14 first-half points before he suffered a neck injury were enough to guide his big-spending French side Toulon into their first final.
It means that in his first season in France Wilkinson is in line for a league and cup double following Toulon’s second-place finish in the Top 14, which earns them a semi-final place.
Now Wilkinson can look forward to a date with either old rivals London Wasps, and a certain Danny Cipriani, or Cardiff Blues in Marseille.
He kicked his side into a 12-9 lead in Galway before converting a try by centre Mafi Kefu.
Opposite number Ian Keatley landed all Connacht’s points with four penalties.
Heineken Cup holders Leinster, meanwhile, were dealt a severe blow to their defence yesterday when Ireland stand-off Jonathan Sexton was ruled out of today’s semi-final in Toulouse.
Despite sessions in an oxygen chamber, Sexton has failed to recover from a fractured jaw suffered in the quarter-final win over Clermont Auvergne. So former Bath utility back Shaun Berne will take on the play-making duties for the Irish province.
Munster are also without one of their key men with second-row Paul O’Connell sidelined because of his long-standing groin injury for tomorrow’s semi-final against Biarritz in San Sebastian.
FORMER Wales second row Brent Cockbain has left Sale as new coach Mike Brewer embarks on a summer clear-out at Edgeley Park.