Clermont Auvergne host Toulon in Top 14 live on Sky Sports
Last Updated: 28/11/15 8:35pm
Toulon's Drew Mitchell wants a Top 14 win away to Clermont on Saturday night to bury the World Cup final loss to New Zealand.
Clermont and Toulon meet at Stade Marcel Michelin - live on Sky Sports 4 HD from 7.40pm - in a repeat of last season's Champions Cup final, but it's not the Champions Cup result that has been motivating the Australian.
Mitchell was part of the Wallabies team that lost 34-17 to the All Blacks at Twickenham last month, and is now eager to put things behind him, starting with a win over Toulon's Top 14 rivals.
"We were hurt at the time, it's never nice to go through a campaign and then lose in the final," said Mitchell.
"We've had time to digest that now though and want to focus on our objectives here."
Mitchell believes Toulon, who are currently fourth in the French domestic league, will be improved by the returning internationals but is happy with the start made by the club.
"The guys who came in a did a great job. It looks worse than it is. We had 18 players at the World Cup," he said.
Another Australian international back for Toulon is James O'Connor, who left Europe to play for Queensland Reds in a failed bid to make Australia's 2015 World Cup squad.
"It's good to be home," said O'Connor.
"My last game was five months ago. I can't wait to get back on the field, nail down a position and be a starter for Toulon."
The 25-year-old says he has no regrets leaving Toulon in a bid to play in the global showpiece.
"I can't see it as a mistake. If I had to do it again, I would do. But I'd also have loved to stay here and take part in the European Cup.
"These are life choices," said O'Connor.
Toulon have named a strong side for the encounter, with Mitchell starting and O'Connor on the bench while another Wallaby, Matt Giteau, taking the No 10 jersey.
Clermont have moved Nick Abendanon to the bench to accommodate Scott Spedding's inclusion at full-back, with England's David Strettle holding onto a starting place for the clash.
Clermont Auvergne: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 David Strettle, 13 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Albert Vulivuli, 11 Adrien Plante, 10 Brock James, 9 Morgan Parra, 1 Raphael Chaume, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 5 Flip van der Merwe, 6 Camille Gerondeau, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 8 Damien Chouly (c).
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Thomas Domingo, 18 Paul Jedrasiak, 19 Julien Bardy, 20 Ludovic Radosavljevic, 21 Nick Abendanon, 22 Noa Nakaitaci, 23 Clement Ric.
Toulon: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Maxime Mermoz, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Eric Escande, 1 Florian Fresia, 2 Anthony Etrillard, 3 Levan Chilachava, 4 Samu Manoa, 5 Konstantin Mikautadze, 6 Mamuka Gorgodze, 7 Juan Fernandez Lobbe (c), 8 Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: 16 Bastien Soury, 17 Xavier Chiocci, 18 Romain Taofifénua, 19 Jocelino Suta, 20 Steffon Armitage, 21 James O'Connor, 22 Anthony Meric, 23 Matt Stevens.
Watch Clermont Auvergne against Toulon in the Top 14 live on Sky Sports 4 HD from 7.40pm on Saturday.