article: Saracens - serial winners with a cult-like collective mentality - take on Clermont Auvergne, whose sublime individual talents have too often been big-day bridesmaids. Often in major finals, the only fireworks on the pitch are when the winning captain lifts the trophy. But both these teams are capable of scintillating rugby to light up Murrayfield. It will be one to relish. There is a paradox around this Saracens team. They have been in the shake-down for major honours for the past five years. Last season, they landed a Premiership-Champions Cup double. Yet when you read down their teamsheet, it is not the scary set of individual superstars that big-money French sides in particular have put together in this competition's past. I suspect that is exactly how they like it. Saracens' success has been based around putting the team first. But that approach can't disguise the fact that fly-half Owen Farrell is fast becoming world class - if he is not there already. When he initially emerged at Saracens, his game was based on his excellent distribution and dead-eyed place kicking. Now he has so much more. His passing is sharper, his tactical kicking is more varied, he is a threat when he runs with the ball in hand and, if he doesn't go through a gap himself, he has the sleight of hand to put a team-mate into one. Opposite him, as in England's narrow Six Nations win over France earlier this year, is Camille Lopez. Lopez does not have either the flourishes or the fragility you sometimes associate with French fly-halves. He was excellent in the semi-final win over Leinster, controlling the tempo of the match and minimising mistakes, and if Clermont are to win, Lopez will have to lead them to victory again. The French side will not be able to outmuscle Saracens. Instead Clermont will have to beat them at their own game, by kicking often and smartly, defending stoutly and backing themselves to be sharper at exploiting the chances when they come. That puts a lot of pressure on Lopez. If he gets frustrated by Saracens' suffocating defence and lets his concentration slip, then Farrell and co won't be caught. With the likes of Aurelien Rougerie, Damien Chouly and Morgan Parra, there is a huge amount of experience among the Clermont ranks. Unfortunately for them, it is mainly experience of losing games like this. In 14 finals in the French Championship and top-tier European competition, Clermont have won just once. Their fans travel in huge numbers and with great expectations. You saw the excitement when they poured on to the pitch after the win over Leinster and I'm sure they will outnumber Saracens in the stands. Find out how to get into rugby union with our special guide. That is great if they get in the lead and the yellow and blue flags are fluttering at Murrayfield. If it goes the other way though and Saracens go ahead, the sense of deja vu will be stifling. It won't just be the finals in which they have frozen either.
summary: The Champions Cup has delivered a finale full of intrigue, a cliffhanger climax to end a humdinger of a tournament.