Live Commentary: Heineken Cup final - Clermont Auvergne 15-16 Toulon - as it happened

Good afternoon! We're less than an hour from the start of the biggest club game in European rugby. Let's start by taking a look at the teams for today's encounter between Clermont Auvergne and Toulon.

CLERMONT XV: Byrne, Sivivatu, Rougerie, Fofana, Nalaga, James, Parra, Domingo, Kayser, Zirakashvili, Cudmore, Hines, Bonnaire, Vosloo, Chouly

TOULON XV: Armitage, Wulf, Bastareaud, Giteau, Palisson, Wilkinson, Tillous-Borde, Sheridan, Bruno, Hayman, Botha, Kennedy, Rossouw, Lobbe, Masoe

CLERMONT REPLACEMENTS: Paulo, Debaty, Ric, Pierre, Bardy, Radosavljevic, Skrela, King

TOULON REPLACEMENTS: Orioli, Jenkins, Kubriashvili, Van Niekerk, Armitage, Mermoz, Michalak, Suta

Jonny Wilkinson wears the captain's armband for Toulon this afternoon. The former England fly-half has been instrumental in the club's progression to the final of the Heineken Cup this season.

The 33-year-old seems eager to get going, according to Sky Sports News he was unable to do his warm up at the Aviva Stadium this morning, having arrived before the groundstaff!

There are a number of other Brits named in the Toulon side, including Delon Armitage and Nick Kennedy, while Lee Byrne and Nathan Hines are both included in the Clermont squad.

Let's take a look at how both teams made it to this stage of the tournament. Clermont were unbeaten in the pool stage, despite sharing a group with current Heineken Cup holder Leinster. They thrashed Montpellier in the quarter-finals, before dispatching Munster in the last four. Meanwhile, Toulon also topped their pool, winning five of their six matches, before beating Leicester Tigers and Saracens in the knock-out stages. Both teams have faced tough opponents to reach the final, so we should be in for a good match this afternoon!

These two clubs could be facing each other in other final at the start of June. They were the top two clubs in France's Top 14 this season, with Clermont claiming top spot in the table by just one point! If they both win their semi-finals next weekend, they will meet again in the Top 14 final at the Stade de France on June 1.

The location of today's match doesn't seem to have deterred the French supporters. It's estimated that 24,000 rugby fans have flown in from France for this weekend's finals in Dublin, with 21 charter flights coming from the Auvergne region alone.

Today will see four of the five players shortlisted for this year's European Player of the Year award. Toulon's Wilkinson is nominated, as are Julien Bonnaire, Wesley Fofana and Sitiveni Sivivatu from Clermont, while Leinster's Jamie Heaslip completed the list.

Illustrious though his career has been, Wilkinson has never lifted the Heineken Cup. Ahead of today's match he told reporters: "There is no doubt that where I stand now this is all I have got to play for. That gives you a fair idea of the importance of it to me. I am playing in a one-game-at-a-time situation. To actually get a shot at something like this at this stage in your career is amazing. It was my first semi-final a few weeks back. This is my first final. This is all I have got to play for now in my career and therefore it is the biggest thing I've got."

Former Scotland lock Nathan Hines won the Heineken Cup with Leinster two years ago before he joined Clermont. He told ercrugby.com: "Playing against Toulon, it's all about pressure. They have strong forwards and power-runners, so there's danger pretty much everywhere. If we can cope with the pressure, stay out of our own half and keep them in theirs, then like in any rugby game, you're on your way to making it easier for yourself."

It's been a busy 24 hours for rugby in Dublin. Yesterday evening saw Leinster take on Stade Francais in the final of the European Challenge Cup at the RDS Arena, with the Irish side winning 34-13 to lift their fourth European trophy in five seasons.

Of course, coming from the same domestic league, these two teams have already played twice this season. Clermont claimed a narrow victory in the first meeting between the two sides earlier in the season, while they shared the spoils last month after drawing 26-26.

The weather could be a factor this afternoon. It's currently dry at the Aviva Stadium but rain is forecast, and there is no roof over the pitch at the ground.

With less than 10 minutes until kickoff it's probably time to make a prediction. The bookmakers have Clermont Auvergne as marginal favourites, but I think I'm going to predict a narrow win for Toulon.

Today's referee will be Irishman Alain Rolland, who took charge of the 2007 world cup final.

Both teams are leaving their dressing rooms and getting ready to head out to the pitch. We're just moments away from kickoff now.

Clermont Auverne get the first half underway.

It's a good start for Clermont. Lee Byrne gets the ball and chips it forward. He tries to chase Brock James makes the catch, before being forced into touch by Wilkinson.

Toulon are penalised for a high tackle, and Morgan Parra is lining up an attempt at the uprights, looking to give Clermont an early lead.

It's an easy kick for one of the most accurate penalty takers in the game. Toulon will need to avoid giving Parra more easy opportunities to run up the score for Clermont.

Toulon take control from a scrum and are patient in their build up against a well-organised Clermont defence, but Rudi Wulf loses the ball as he is hit by a solid tackle from Rougerie.

Toulon are penalised in the scrum but this time they chose to kick it into touch for the lineout. Parra breaks away as Clermont bear down on the Toulon 22, but Toulon are able to force their opponents back to the half-way line.

Clermont are penalised for a holding offence, and Wilkinson elects to kick for a lineout, but Byrne is able to stop the ball going into touch, and sends Toulon back into their own territory. However, Clermont have been penalised again, and this time Wilkinson is setting up for an attempt at the posts.

Wilkinson makes it look simple as he blasts the ball between the uprights to level the scores. There has been little between the two teams in the opening 15 minutes.

Toulon are in possession again and beginning to dominate after a quiet start to the match. However, Clermont regain the ball following another holding on offence.

Clermont look to break from the lineout, but Fofana can't control the ball from a Parra chip, and Wulf goes on the counter attack for Toulon. Both sides look keen to get the first try on the board as soon as possible.

Clermont are on the attack again, but can't find any gaps in the Toulon defence. Parra almost loses the ball, but James is able to gather and set Sivivatu free. He almost breaks free, but Armitage just manages to bring him down before he can run in for a try.

From near the Toulon try line, Wilkinson kicks the ball out to the half-way line for a lineout, but Clermont regain possession from the throw in, as Byrne looks to find a way through the defence, but Rougerie draws a penalty, giving Toulon another chance with the lineout.

Toulon win a scrum, and Masoe gains around 15 metres before being brought down. He gets the ball away to Giteau but the ball in knocked on, giving Clermont the scrum.

It's been a very cagey opening 30 minute at the Aviva Stadium, with neither side creating much in the way of try-scoring opportunities, as is often the way early in a final. However, James picks out Sivivatu and it looks like he has space, but Toulon are awarded the penalty as the pass went forward.

Clermont are so close to the try line, but they can't get through. Fofana and Domingo both look to power their way over the line, but it's not happening for them. Toulon win a penalty, but the game is delayed while Armitage receives treatment, having injured his knee in the break down.

Clermont are back on the ball again, stretching the Toulon defence with a superb series of quick passes. Sivivatu finds Byrne out wide as Clermont bear down on the 22-yard line. Clermont are looking dangerous at the moment.

Brock James may have just scored the opening try of the contest. He gains the ball from a lineout and chips it forward. In a race with Masoe, he beats the Toulon man to the ball, but it may have already been in touch when he got a hand to it.

The video replay confirmed that the ball was dead before James reached it. It's agonisingly close to an opening try for Clermont.

A cross-field kick from James find Nalaga, who passes to Fofana, but the French international loses the ball, and Toulon go on the counter attack and win a scrum when Clermont are penalised for a knock on.

Clermont take a quick free kick from the scrum, and Parra chips it forward looking to get into position to go for the drop goal, but he loses the ball, and that should be it for this opening half.

Well it was a low-scoring start to the Heineken Cup final with chances at a premium, but it's still all to play for as the teams head in at half time.

Toulon will probably be the happier of the two teams at the break. They had a strong spell midway through the opening 40 minutes, but for much of the final 20 minutes they were weathering a Clermont Auvergne storm, and were lucky not to concede a try when Brock James chipped the ball forward, just failing to get a hand to it before is crossed the dead ball line.

Toulon's lack of attacking opportunities won't worry them too much. They have not scores a try since the pool stage of the tournament, relying on Wilkinson's kicking ability to get them through the quarter- and semi-finals.

If Toulon are to break their try-scoring drought they may look towards Mathieu Bastareaud. The French international had a quiet opening 40 minutes, but is capable as putting in a game-changing performance.

The teams are back out ready for the second half and Jonny Wilkinson gets the action underway.

It's an aggressive start to the half for Clermont, and Napolioni Nalaga may have just scored the opening try of the game, but Alain Rolland is turning to the video ref.

Sivivatu collects the ball from the turnover and flicks it out wide to Nalaga, and he tears down the wing, powering his way over the try line. Great start to the second half for Clermont.

MISSED CONVERSION! Morgan Parra can't add the extra two points for Clermont, as his penalty from a tricky angle is well off target.

Toulon are awarded a penalty as they push to get back on level terms. The team's captain elects to go for three, and it's an easy kick for Wilkinson, bringing Toulon within two points of Clermont.

What a lively start it's been to this second half! Brock James picks up the ball, pushes Wilkinson out of his way, while Rougerie offers protection, allowing James to run 30 yards to find the try line.

Toulon are looking a bit shell-shocked at the moment. A nine-point lead isn't enough for Clermont to be sure of the win with 30 minutes still to play, but it's difficult to see where Toulon will get their points from, aside from the boot of Wilkinson.

Toulon have made a series of replacements as they look to halt the Clermont charge, but the Top 14 table-toppers remain in possession, and Toulon are looking stretched in defence.

Parra chips the ball into the Toulon 22, but Toulon intercept the kick, and Wilkinson fires it away to prevent Clermont adding their third try since half time. It looks like Clermont can sense the win now though.

Toulon have their first real spell of possession in the second half, but they fail to gain territory, and the move comes to an end with a knock on. They look like a side low on confidence right now.

Fofana makes a big gain down the wing, having collected the ball from a Toulon kick. As Toulon get organised in defence, Cudmore pushes his way through, but Michalak wins a penalty for Toulon, and takes it quickly.

Toulon are awarded a penalty 15 metres out, and Wilkinson elects to go for the posts, moving his team within a converted try of Clermont's score. Toulon aren't out of this yet.

Toulon go on the attack again and are patient as they move into Clermont territory, but a mistake at the break down allows Domingo to force the turnover for Clermont.

A moment of brilliance from Toulon has got them right back in this match. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe grabs the ball from the break down and passes it wide to Delon Armitage, who sprints from just inside Clermont territory to the try line, cheekily waving to Brock James as the Clemont man gave chase.

Wilkinson shows no signs of pressure as he adds the extra two points to put Toulon ahead for the first time in this match, and now it's Clermont who look stunned.

Bastareaud has come alive for Toulon, making a solid tackle against James to gain possession for his side. The momentum is all with Toulon with just over 10 minutes left to play.

Some brilliant footwork for Sivivatu sees Clermont enter the Toulon 22. He passes the ball to Byrne, but the Wales international hasn't got the room to make a break for the try line. The move breaks down, and Toulon get time to organise their defence. This is going to be a tense final 10 minutes.

Clermont are applying pressure to the Toulon defence again, with Sivivatu and Fofana causing all sorts of problems. Somehow, Toulon manage to hold on with Nalaga knocking on.

The rain is really coming down at the Aviva Stadium now, making handling a bit tricky, but with the scores so close it could all come down to the kicking game.

Clermont try to force their way towards the goalposts in an attempt to set up David Skrela for the drop goal, but they get it wrong, and Toulon are awarded the scrum. Clermont are running out of time.

DROP GOAL BLOCKED! Clermont manage to find Skrela, but Bastareaud and Wilkinson are alert to the danger and smother the fly-half, and Clermont must start again with just seconds remaining.

Sivivatu gets the ball out wide but Toulon manage to block the gap, stopping the ball just a few feet short of the try line.

Toulon manage to survive some late pressure from Clermont Auvergne to take a single point victory in the final of the Heineken Cup. It was always going to be a close match, but it doesn't get any tighter than that, what a finish!

Clermont Auvergne's players look devastated. They made such a brilliant start to the second half and looked to have the measure of their opponents, but Toulon showed impressive spirit to come back.

Well, that's all from the Heineken Cup this season, but the rugby season is far from over. Next weekend sees Northampton Saints play Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership final. Until then, thanks for joining us this afternoon, good bye!