Up steps the usually reliable Owen Farrell from distance and promptly hooks his kick to the left of the sticks.

It is not pretty, but there's no doubting the passion on the field. Unfortunately for Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe he gets over-excited and drags down Saracens lock Alistair Hargreaves as they challenge for a high kick, and is rightly sent to the bin.

Sarries hit back with a pulsating attack, although it ends without a positive outcome as Owen Farrell's drop-goal drifts wide.

There's a blur of quick passing by the Sarries forwards and backs but big hit after big hit comes raining in from Toulon and the French side hold out.

Ooh, big let-off for Saracens. Deep inside their own 22 scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth - renowned for the quality of his kicking game - is charged down by Toulon hooker Craig Burden as he tries to box kick.

Toulon number nine Sebastien Tillous-Borde tries to pounce but the ball just goes over the sideline before he can touch it down.

Well, at least the ball came out of that scrum, although after staying upright for some time the front rows eventually went to ground with the inevitability of a fox being chased by the hunt.

Chris Ashton makes a little dart and Toulon are pinged for hands in the ruck.

Up steps Marcelo 'Bish Bash' Bosch to give it a whack from long range but the kick falls short and wide.

"Are we going to sort this out or am I going to have to bring some new people on," says referee Alain Rolland after yet another scrum collapse.

Matt Dawson
Former England scrum-half on BBC Radio 5 live

"Saracens are so tight as a unit off the field. All those trips to Octoberfest and New York, people may think they're on a jolly. But that bond, they defend for their lives and defend for Alex Goode. They are so tight as a team. I just hope they can maintain that in this final."

Toulon's Xavier Chiocci is penalised for the second time at the scrum, enabling Saracens to clear their lines, although they then lose their line-out throw.

Here come the big Toulon runners inside the Saracens 22. Number eight Steffon Armitage is prominent as the champions batter their way to within five metres of the Sarries posts but Brad Barritt gets over the ball after a tackle and wins the penalty.

Great defence by the Londoners - as if we should be surprised. They pride themselves on their offensive defence.

Image source, Getty Images

Penalty to Saracens as referee Alain Rolland decides it was Toulon who took the scrum down.

The much-maligned Millennium Stadium pitch is already cutting up. Good thing they're getting rid of it this summer and putting in a new grass/plastic hybrid like they have at Twickenham, among other grounds.

Former Scotland scrum-half Andy Nicol on Twitter:, external Just been for a run with daughter, now for the Heineken Cup final. Will be very tight but going for Sarries by four.

Owen Farrell will get us under way... and Chris Ashton hammers Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe as the Argentine spills the ball forwards.

Scrum Sarries... and inevitably the first one collapses.

BBC Sport's Chris Osborne at the Millennium Stadium: "Rain? What rain? Just pull over the roof on your 72,000-seater stadium and voila! The rain is no more. Plus, it makes for a terrific atmosphere. If a bonanza of lights, flames and fireworks doesn't get the pulse racing then you might as well go home. There's a terrific atmosphere and high expectations."

Here come the teams - Toulon led out by Jonny Wilkinson, Saracens by Steve Borthwick. The Millennium Stadium looks and sounds superb.

The end of an era, but the chance for one team to become Heineken Cup champions in perpetuity...

Image source, @neilback

Former England player Neil Back on Twitter:, external Great atmosphere ahead of the Heineken Cup final.

Image source, @simonbaxter

Simon Baxter:, external Allez Toulon - from a bitter Ulster fan.

Sarries beat Ulster 17-15 to clinch a place in the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup in April.

Image source, @dannycare

Harlequins and England player Danny Care on Twitter:, external Was an honour to play with Jonny Wilkinson. Sad to see him retire. I carried him everywhere!

Saracens might not have quite the individual star power of the champions (although you get the feeling Chris Ashton would have something to say about that), but they are a formidable unit.

Owen Farrell is maturing into a commanding fly-half and will be relishing the chance to gain revenge on Jonny Wilkinson after the older man sunk Sarries' hopes last year - promptly followed by a pat on the head by way of apology.

Steve Borthwick is the brains of the operation, Schalk Brits the magician and Jacques Burger the enforcer.