Toulon may just be the finest team we've seen in two decades of Europe, says Stuart Barnes

Toulon may be the finest team we've seen in two decades of European rugby, says Sky Sports' Stuart Barnes.

Toulon might not be the most loved team in Europe but they are certainly the best. It’s difficult not to go further and say they are the finest team that two decades of European club competition has produced. The facts don’t so much speak for themselves as scream. Three successive titles is an astonishing effort.

The Leinster team that won three Heineken Cups in four years was a special team and far easier on the eye. Had they too won three on the bounce I would have maintained my belief in their European superiority but the hat-trick was beyond even them.

Johnny Wilkinson took the mantle on. Now we wait to see whether Ma’a Nonu and Quade Cooper can keep the Toulon machine chugging along.

Leicester’s back-to-back team was quite a side as well with an epic away win in Paris against a formidable Stade Francais team their highlight, but again, no hat-trick, no cigar. Wasps’ first title – when they beat Munster at Lansdowne Road and Toulouse at full tilt at Twickenham - was the most memorable sequence of semi-final-and-final triumphs, while Brive’s destruction of Leicester could just be the most impressive final 80 minutes of them all. But the cigar, that goes to Toulon.

There’s having money and there’s spending it wisely, and the former is no guarantee of the latter. A few French clubs have proved this particular point over the years. Toulon have been wise. From Tana Umaga onwards, Mourad Boudjellal has set out his vision of the type of player Toulon requires.

Pride and Passion

Jonny Wilkinson took the mantle on. Now we wait to see whether Ma’a Nonu and Quade Cooper can keep the Toulon machine chugging along. Neither are obvious signings. Injury and erratic form is the question mark that lingers over Cooper’s head, while Nonu has not always been the player for club and region as he has for country. He has been sharp this season, it must be said.

Toulon have money and the Med but also a vast amount of pride and passion. Good players are interested in a nice nest-egg but they have their pride and the right ones want to head for somewhere they can flourish. Toulon is an ideal environment. The post-match celebration of this host of stars, with countless honours between them, is testimony to the commitment they have in their club. I’ll not buy into the mercenary stuff about Toulon. They are a great club with a great ethos... and apparently they are one of the two French clubs making money. Great accountants too!

As for the vanquished, what can one say about Clermont? Two final defeats in three years, a meltdown in the semi-final last season, a famous quarter-final meltdown against Leinster in Dublin, Wesley Fofana dropping the ball over the line in a majestic semi-final in Bordeaux? The club is the new Munster.

The Irish team defined this tournament with their constant quest for glory. The blood they spilt and the scars earned along the way made it all the sweeter for them when they finally got their hands on the trophy. Anyone with a heart must be hoping that Clermont, the new Munster, will one day have their day. It will be a tremendous test of character to see if they can pick themselves up in time to reassert their domestic challenge in France.

Last season they lost their way, this season they have been leaking points in the last month as they built towards their European assault. They are still second but the rest of the league is within breathing distance of them. Clermont’s response will be fascinating. Toulon are now on course for the double-double. They will take some stopping.

Rugby city

Elsewhere, the Sky cameras are back in Belfast for the match between Ulster and Munster in the Guinness Pro12. Second against third with the visitors a point ahead. Thomond Park is not quite as formidable as it once was but Munster would rather be there than anywhere else, while Ulster see their home ground as a huge advantage. With Ospreys playing Glasgow on Friday night the play-off picture might just be a little clearer come Sunday.

Glasgow are seeking that first Scottish title in the professional era after Edinburgh came up short against Gloucester. The English side had extra power and a match-winner in Jonny May. The tournament has been weakened with the disappearance of the seventh, eighth and ninth-placed European teams from a drop down, but the Cherry and Whites could only play what was in front of them and they did that well enough to win the trophy.

The atmosphere was great at the Stoop and that was in no small part to Gloucester’s marvellous support. Their first trophy since winning the same tournament in 2006, the celebrations will have been long and hard in this rugby city.

Live PRO12 Rugby Union

In the Championship play-off in England its clear advantage to Gloucester’s near and dear rivals, Bristol and Worcester, after a far from untroubled pair of first legs. It looks set for the shoot-out everyone has been expecting in the bid for Premiership promotion. If the Premiership does away with relegation it will be a massive blot on their credentials as a body concerned with sport as well as the business of making money - but that’s for later.

The Premiership itself has a fascinating six-into-four scenario and with Wasps at home to Leicester and Saracens playing Exeter, there’ll be a fair old shake-up this weekend. Throw in the ever intensifying quality of Super Rugby and another fine weekend of rugby awaits us.

I am off to Belfast and a new discovery, the No Alibis book shop. It specialises in Whodunnits. The answer, folks, is Toulon.

Stuart answers your questions...

Got a question for Stuart? Email him at skysportsclub@bskyb.com, tweet @SkySportsRugby #askskyrugby or use the feedback form at skysports.com.

Should Giteau and Mitchell play for Australia in the World Cup? - Anthony Lewis

STUART REPLIES: Anthony, if they are good enough... I don't think either is a starting XV member at the moment but Giteau's ability to play 10 and 12 makes him a likely inclusion. Despite Mitchell's try there's a lot of strike power out wide in Australia.

Is the spending power of Clermont and Toulon harming the development of the French national team?? - Louis Daviss

STUART REPLIES: Louis, it probably is because a lot of good French players are not getting sufficient rugby but I think it wrong to take aim purely at the clubs. The FFR has hardly covered itself in glory with Philippe Saint-Andre and Serge Blanco obvious candidates for criticism.

The European title has been wrapped up by Toulon for the third successive time. Is there a danger that no team can catch them? What will that mean for rugby in the northern hemisphere? - Darin Middleton

STUART REPLIES: Darin, Toulon could easily have been knocked out in the semi-final. They are no more uncatchable than Leinster were a few years ago. They'll be the favourites next season but they are far from unbeatable - which makes their achievement all the greater. Toulon are good for Europe, they raise the bar.