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THEY ARE CONSISTENTLY lumped together in the one bracket, most often for the purposes of identifying the likely recruiters for Ireland’s best and brightest rugby players.

But in Twickenham this afternoon Clermont and Toulon will be approaching from very different angles.

Jono Gibbes talks his pack through the last details in yesterday’s captain’s run. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

For Toulon, today’s Champions Cup final (KO 17.00, Sky/BT) is about extending their era. They can turn dominance into a dynasty by adding the newly crafted trophy to the back-to-back Heineken Cups on Mourad Boudjellal’s mantelpiece.

Winning has become a habit for the team from the Cote D’Azur. The last time they tasted defeat in a knockout round of the European Cup is a wistful four-year-old memory of a 2011 quarter-final exit in Perpignan.

Look through their team-sheet below. It’s crammed full of winners. Whether it’s Toulon’s own triumphs as aided by Carl Hayman, Mathieu Bastareaud and Steffon Armitage, the Grand Slam enjoyed by Leigh Halfpenny or the small matter of World Cup medals belonging to Bryan Habana, Bakkies Botha and Juan Smith — Toulon have men for all seasons.

Toulon force Gopperth to slice his drop-goal to the right of the posts. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Head coach Bernard Laporte has taken stock of the incredible resources at his disposal and opted to twist his starting line-up. Out goes Freddy Michalak after extra-time was needed to bypass Leinster in the semi. Matt Giteau takes over at number 10 with the brilliant Argentine Juan Martin Hernandez slotting in along side the Wallaby at inside centre.

Perhaps more importantly, Steffon Armitage has been reinstated to openside flanker having been left to make his inimitable breakdown impact from the replacements bench in Marseille.

Clermont are no slouches after the tackle themselves. With ex-Leinster forwards coach Jono Gibbes on board, they demand relentless attention to detail at ruck time. Head coach Franck Azema has added a touch extra ooomph to his back row with the addition of Fritz Lee at number eight in place of Julien Bardy and a Morgan Parra’s return to full fitness is the only other change.

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Les Jaunards will hope to inspire their side to victory today. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

For a fortnight since claiming their final berth with a narrow win over Saracens, Clermont players have been at pains to stress that today’s final derives no influence from previous title deciders. If it has sounded a bit like they were perhaps protesting too much, it’s because they have every reason to fear a case of history repeating.

In this part of the world, the memory of Clermont laying siege to the Leinster line in 2010 is still fresh. With a foot on the champions’ neck, Brock James couldn’t or wouldn’t deliver the coup de grace.

Then there’s the 2013 Heineken Cup final where today’s opponents smashed and grabbed victory despite facing an 11-point deficit going in to the final quarter. Had enough of so-near-yet-so-far anguish? How do 10 defeats to 1 win in French Championship finals grab you?