Scotland stars face off for glory in showpiece match as 68 cap former Lion proving he's still got it

The two sides finished first and second respectively in the league table at the end of the regular season with leaders Toulouse hammering Racing 92 71-17 in their semi-final last Friday. EPCR Challenge Cup winners Montpellier followed that up by edging out Stade Français 25-13 to set up the showpiece match.

Blair Kinghorn started at full-back for the reigning champions but was surprisingly not one of their ten different try scorers against Racing with the likes of Antoine Dupont, Ange Capuozzo and Peato Mauvaka crossing. French stand-off Romain Ntamack kicked eight conversions and a penalty while Kinghorn added two points to the final score line by converting one of the tries.

Blair Kinghorn, Ali Price and more in line to feature as Toulouse take on Montpellier in Top 14 final

Ali Price was once again named as starting scrum-half for Montepllier, just as he was in their 59-26 EPCR Challenge Cup win over Ulster last month, in their victory. The 68-times capped half-back has not featured for his country since the 2024 Autumn Nations Series but his performances in France this season have led to calls for a return under Gregor Townsend.

The national team head coach addressed these when he named his squad for this summer’s Nations Championship fixtures against Argentina, South Africa and Fiji. He said that the 33-year-old, a Test match British & Irish Lions from their 2021 tour of South Africa, “just missed out on selection” with scrum-half currently such a competitive position in the Scotland ranks.

Ben White, George Horne and Jamie Dobie were named as the nines in the group with Sale Sharks’ Gus Warr, who has been included in recent selections, also missing out. Kinghorn was also not selected in the initial Scotland squad for the matches but Townsend confirmed this was due to him wanting to rest the full-back after a long season rather than due to injury or indeed form.

There may also be a chance for other Scotland internationals to feature in Saturday's Top 14 final including back rower Alex Masibaka who was a replacement for Montpellier in their semi-final victory. The Australian born Number 8 is yet to feature at senior national level but did play for Scotland ‘A’ earlier this year.

Former Scotland captain and international centurion Stuart Hogg is also at Montpellier but is less likely to feature in the final having not been selected to play in their defeat of Stade Français. The 33-year old retired from international rugby in 2023 and moved to France after leaving Exeter Chiefs the following year.

The Top 14 final marks the last match of the top tier domestic European rugby schedule for the year with the United Rugby Championship and England’s Gallagher Premiership having both concluded last weekend. Leinster defeated the Bulls, who overcame Glasgow Warriors in the semi-finals, to retain the URC trophy.

Northampton Saints, who have Scotland internationals Elliot Millar Mills and Rory Hutchinson in their ranks, beat Exeter 26-17 at Twickenham in English rugby’s showpiece contest.

Your next rugby read: Scotland scrum-half eyes Top 14 final and chance of second trophy with French club