Sky Live: Clermont v Toulouse
Last Updated: 06/06/15 6:26pm
Clermont do battle with the most successful team in Top 14 history in the second of our semi-finals on Sky Sports.
Clermont have not made it into a Top 14 final since 2010, when they beat Perpignan 19-6 at the Stade de France. They had made the final in all three of the seasons that preceded that title victory, but did not manage to take the trophy home in any of those encounters. The 2010 win remains Clermont's only Top 14 title.
Toulouse on the other hand are attending their third final in three seasons, winning in 2011 and 2012. The French giants are the most successful in the history of the competition, winning 19 titles in total.
These two sides first met this season in September last year, with Clermont stealing a 13-9 win at Stade Ernest-Wallon, before beating them again at home, this time more convincingly as tries from centres Wesley Fofana and Aurelien Rougerie gave them a 24-6 win.
Rougerie and Fofana once again feature in the side, though the former has been moved to the wing at the expense of Benson Stanley.
They will have to do it without Canadian international Jamie Cudmore who will miss the rest of the season due to injury.
"He took a hit on Monday in training and as he'd already had a knock in the European Cup final that makes it twice," Clermont coach Franck Azema said of Cudmore on Friday.
"We will respect the period of delays [of recovery]. He will have additional tests."
Toulouse have stuck with largely the same outfit that ran out 20-19 winners over Oyonnax in last week’s quarter-final win.
Yann David has come into the side at centre while Census Johnston is back in the No 3 jersey after missing out last weekend.
Clermont: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Aurelien Rougerie, 13 Benson Stanley, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra, 1 Thomas Domingo, 2 John Ulugia, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 4 Paul Jedrasiak, 5 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 6 Damien Chouly (c), 7 Julien Bardy, 8 Fritz Lee.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Raphael Chaume, 18 Julien Pierre, 19 Alexandre Lapandry, 20 Ludovic Radosavljevic, 21 Brock James, 22 Jean-Marcellin Buttin, 23 Clement Ric.
Toulouse: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Yann David, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Yoann Huget, 10 Jean-Marc Doussain, 9 Sebastien Bezy, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp, 2 Corey Flynn, 3 Census Johnston, 4 Joe Tekori, 5 Patricio Albacete, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (c), 7 Yannick Nyanga, 8 Gillian Galan.
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Cyril Baille, 18 Yoann Maestri, 19 Louis Picamoles, 20 Toby Flood, 21 Florian Fritz, 22 Timoci Matanavou, 23 Dorian Aldegheri.