Rest assured as Clermont, Toulon eye Twickenham final

Top 14 leading duo Toulon and Clermont return to domestic duties on Saturday with one eye on their European Rugby Champions Cup final next Sunday.

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Toulon’s South African winger Bryan Habana (right) collides with Leinster wing Fergus McFadden during their European Rugby Champions Cup semi-final. Toulon won 25-20 in extra-time after the match had ended 12-12 on 80 minutes. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:15pm, 25 Apr 2015Updated: 1:55am, 3 May 2015

Top 14 leading duo Toulon and Clermont return to domestic duties on Saturday with one eye on their European Rugby Champions Cup final on May 2.

Leaders Toulon and second-placed Clermont play La Rochelle and Castres respectively, but face the dilemma of choosing between much-needed points to secure a semi-final play-off spot and the desire to rest players ahead of the Twickenham final.

"Obviously, we are thinking about next week," admitted Clermont lock Sebastien Vahaamahina, who is one of the 12 players who will be given a break against strugglers Castres following his standout performance in the 13-9 semi-final win over Saracens.

Clermont scrum-half Ludovic Radosavljevic celebrates with team-mates after they booked their place in the final with a 13-9 victory against Saracens. Photo: AP

Two-time European champions Toulon will go the same route, as 32-year-old fly-half Frederic Michalak will be the only man to feature against La Rochelle having also played in last week's 25-20 extra-time semi-final victory against Leinster.

Toulon manager Bernard Laporte has opted for 14 changes in his line-up with Matt Giteau, Bryan Habana, Sebastien Tillous-Borde and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe all on the bench.

“Some of my players are not all that young anymore, they need some rest,” Laporte explained.