When Toulon’s superstars roll into town for this weekend’s Heineken Cup semi-final they will find in their way a Saracens side who are the only English club left in the last four of Europe’s elite club competition.
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This is a competition that English clubs once dominated – there were five winners from these shores in the space of just eight years from 2000 to 2007 – but Saracens, like last year when they were the only English side to make the last eight, once again find themselves flying the Premiership flag alone.
The Aviva Premiership and France’s Top 14 are demanding Heineken Cup reform in protest at the automatic qualification of teams from the rest of Europe, but so keen are the English elite to appease their allies across the Channel that an innate unfairness between their clashes with France’s finest is often overlooked.
Sunday’s semi-final at Twickenham is a case in point.
Toulon’s millionaire owner Mourad Boudjellal has been able to assemble a squad of ‘Galacticos’ due to the Top 14’s massive 9.5m Euro salary ‘cap’ – that translates to £8.1m, which is nearly double that of the £4.26m cap which every Premiership club is restricted by.
‘Is it possible to get a level playing field when teams can be constructed with different rules and regulations? There is definitely an argument there,’ says Sarries and England wing David Strettle.
‘It’s always going to be questionable whether it’s fair because there are different rules and regulations, but I think when you get to the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup every team’s starting line-up will have quality throughout.
‘They have got something of a dream team line-up but that’s what you get at this level. It’s something the boys are relishing and can’t wait to play in.
‘It’s one of those cases where you analyse their team and you realise they have got key players everywhere, so all you can do is concentrate on yourselves.’
Despite the gulf in resources between the two sides, Strettle is confident that Saracens can overcome their illustrious opponents.
‘It’s about what you bring to the team. A lot of it is down to not just having the quality players but having a work ethic,’ said the 29-year-old.
‘That counts just as much and as a squad we feel that everyone plays for each other and no matter who you bring in, whether they are a superstar or not, I don’t think they will function as well at Saracens unless they have that work ethic.’
If Toulon’s riches give them an advantage, then Sunday’s venue should be a leveller.
While Twickenham is a ‘nominally neutral’ venue – Saracens got to choose any stadium other than their own Allianz Arena as their seeding is higher than Toulon’s – the game will feel like a home tie. Not only are Mark McCall’s side playing in their home town, but they are playing at a stadium which they have often used for home fixtures in the last few years.
‘I’ve not played as many as Jonny Wilkinson there! But it’s something we’re quite lucky with,’ admits Strettle.
‘We’ve been quite nomadic in the last couple of years in the sense that we’ve played at Wembley and Twickenham, and because we’ve got a good English contingent in the team there are a lot of lads who have been lucky enough to put on the Red Rose at Twickenham as well so hopefully it will bode well for us.’
Even amongst a star-studded line-up that includes wrecking-ball France centre Mathieu Bastareaud, South African World Cup-winning lock Bakkies Botha and world class Argentina flanker Juan-Martin Fernandez-Lobbe, Wilkinson’s is still the name that so often steals the limelight in Toulon.
Lining up opposite him on Sunday though is a young man in Owen Farrell who is forging a stellar reputation of his own.
Despite an errant performance against Wales in the Six Nations decider Farrell’s stock has risen markedly this year, and Strettle has no doubt that the 21-year-old fly-half has the ability to outshine Wilkinson – 12 years his senior.
‘Definitely,’ said Strettle when asked if Farrell can steer Saracens to victory on Sunday. ‘I think Owen has proved that he can mix it with the best players and Jonny Wilkinson is definitely one of them.
‘It’s something which Jonny has earned, this hype, you don’t get that unless you’re a special player and he definitely is a special player.
‘That’s why you want to play rugby, you want to play with the best and against the best.
‘But we’re lucky with Owen and Charlie Hodgson that we’ve got two of the best 10s around playing for us because Toulon have definitely got one of the best 10s around playing for them.’
Toulon find themselves in the semi-final after they overcame a half-time deficit to grind out a 21-15 win over Leicester in a try-less game at the Stade Felix Mayol in the last eight.
Saracens have been renowned for their defensive prowess over the last few years and a similarly tight game may well suit them, but this season they have displayed more of a willingness to get the ball wide and use the running ability of the likes of Strettle and Chris Ashton.
‘It’s been great this year because we’ve managed to get the ball out a bit more,’ said Strettle, who has scored nine tries in all competitions this season for the Premiership leaders. ‘Every player has managed to get his hands on the ball and feel like they have contributed to the wins.
‘I’m really happy at the moment, every time I get on the pitch I feel like I’m going to have a chance and make an impact and a contribution.’
But while Strettle feels that should the game become open then Sarries have the ability to outscore their opponents, he admits that a structured game is still the order of the day.
‘We watched the Leicester game and it’s credit to Toulon that they can be under the cosh against such a good team like Leicester and still come out with the win,’ he said. ‘At this stage of any competition games are usually very close because defences are so good these days, but if it does open up I think we’ve shown with the amount of bonus points we’ve got in the last few games that we have got the firepower to break the line and score tries.
‘I am sure the spectators will want it to be an open, flowing game, but from a coach’s point of view and a player’s point of view you realise when it becomes a game like that it’s more open to chance as well.
‘You don’t want it to become too open and too flowing because sometimes that’s when the gameplan goes out the window.’
Most neutrals in England will be supporting Saracens on Sunday, but despite playing at HQ against a French side, Strettle insists they are playing for the club and the club only. ‘Whether there’s other English sides left or not at this stage I don’t think any of the players will be going into it with a different mind-set,’ he said.
‘You’re going in there as a Saracens player representing Saracens and our fans and you want to go in there and win for that, it’s nothing to do with the English side of it. ‘Yeah, if you do win and you’re an English team you’re obviously promoting the English game, but going into it you’re playing for your team.’