Giteau and Carter to vie for Top 14 title

Fri, Jun 24, 2016, 6:45 AM
AFP & Beth Newman
by AFP & Beth Newman

It's not quite a World Cup final, but Matt Giteau and Dan Carter will face off for another major title this weekend, when Toulon takes on Racing in the Top 14 final.

Giteau will line up at 10 for Toulon as they strive for a second title in three years, with the final to be staged in Barcelona.

Toulon will be looking for a slice of redemption after Racing ended the French powerhouse's run at a third consecutive Champions Cup title in April, going on to take the cup.

The final looms as a kicking battle, if previous deciders are anything to go by, and Carter's matchup with Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny looms as a critical one.

In the last 10 Top 14 finals, only 19 tries have been scored and more than 71 percent of the points have come from the boot -- 239 out of 334.

Dan Carter will no doubt play a key role on Saturday morning. Photo: Getty ImagesThe last five finals have been even more tense with only four tries scored while the 2012 final between Toulouse and Toulon and last year's decider featuring Clermont and Stade Francais were decided by the boot.

An average of just nine points has separated the winner and vanquished in finals since 2006 and just six since 2011.

Giteau is the only Wallabies representative in the Toulon side, with Drew Mitchell injured, James O'Connor not named and Quade Cooper reportedly leaving Toulon

Toulon and Racing Metro have split their Top 14 fixturesthis year, with Racing taking the first in August by five poitns, before Toulon took out a 21-20 thriller later in the season.

The match will be broadcast LIVE on Eurosport from 4:45am AEST on Saturday.

 

 

 

 

 

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