The Clermont bodies will be hurting this morning, but mentally they must be in bits.

They slaughtered Toulon in every phase of the game but still they finished behind on the scoreboard.

Clermont wanted the Heineken Cup badly, and until the 64th minute they looked pretty well certain to get it. Their adoring supporters, comfortably the majority in the 50,148 crowd, roared them on relentlessly and when they grabbed two tries early in the second half it seemed the likeliest scenario that they would cruise away to victory.

Then though, with 16 minutes left on the clock, the direction of this all-French final was turned on its head by a brace of Englishmen. The first was Delon Armitage, the Toulon full-back, who took a shovelled pass from flanker Juan Fernandez Lobbe at a seemingly innocuous ruck and scarpered off down the blindside for an improbable score. The second, inevitably, was Jonny Wilkinson.

The former England fly-half had said that winning the Heineken Cup was the only ambition he had left. To be honest, he didn't seem to be craving the thing, for his was a subdued, all-round performance. But put Wilkinson in front of the posts, plonk a ball down in front of him; then there is only one thing going to happen.

And happen it did. Wilkinson's three earlier penalties had kept Toulon in touch in terms of numbers, even when they were floundering everywhere else. Armitage, then, cut Toulon's deficit to just one point, 14-15, and Wilkinson duly turned it into the one-point lead they held to the end.

Even the Toulon players seemed to struggle to come up with an explanation of how they had ended up winning. However, Wilkinson did not mince his words when asked how it compared with winning the World Cup 10 years ago.

"It's right up there," said the fly-half. "In some ways it goes beyond [2003]. You live life for now, in the moment, not in the past. It just gets better and better with a team like this. You question whether you still merit your place in a team, so it's good when these things happen."

There wasn't much good about Toulon's performance for about three quarters of the game though. Their supporters were drowned out in the stands and the team was all but swept away by the ferocity of Clermont's assault.

It was credit to Wilkinson's skills in defensive organisation – but it was also a tribute to the Toulon pack's experience and hard-nosed rugby nous.

Perhaps Clermont were over hasty at times. The pattern of the first half was that they would make a line break, put in a couple of dazzling touches and then turn power possession in the Toulon 22. Their backs provided the magic, but it was the hard work of their forwards, where Scotland international Nathan Hines was outstanding, that provided the ball. After which, a half-time scoreline of 3-3 was all but inexplicable.

The Clermont breakthrough came two minutes into the second half. It arrived when Wilkinson was tackled and then turned over by Gerhard Vosloo near half-way. It was hardly the most dangerous position but Brock James and Aurelien Rougerie put in killer bursts and Napolioni Nalaga sprinted down the touchline to claim the game's first try.

Wilkinson responded with a penalty but the pattern of Clermont attack was only briefly interrupted. And soon Clermont had more reward. Just outside the 22, James put in a sweet chip that was collected by Rougerie. The French international found James again and the Australian fly-half carried on for the second touchdown, this time converted by Morgan Parra.

That looked to be it for Toulon. But crucially, Clermont seemed more content to protect their lead than do anything to stretch it. On the hour mark, Wilkinson cut the gap to six points with his third penalty and Clermont were suddenly in danger. Their nightmare was realised when Armitage sped over.

Clermont had one more chance but David Skrela's attempted dropped goal was charged down by the hulking Mathieu Bastareaud. Their efforts petered out soon afterwards with a lame pass that was knocked into touch by Sitiveni Sivivatu and the Toulon celebrations began.

Clermont Auvergne: L Byrne; S Sivivatu, A Rougerie (captain; R King, 68), W Fofana, N Nalaga; B James (D Skrela, 70), M Parra (L Radoslavjevic, 70); T Domingo (V Debaty 65), B Kayser (T Paulo, 65), D Zirakashvilli (C Ric, 73), J Cudmore, N Hines, J Bonnaire, G Vosloo (J Bardy, 68), D Chouly.

Toulon: D Armitage; R Wulff, M Bastareaud, M Giteau, A Palisson; J Wilkinson (captain), S Tillous-Bordes (F Michalak, 50); A Sheridan (G Jenkins, 60), S Bruno (J Orioli, 52), C Hayman, B Botha (J Suta, 63), N Kennedy, D Rossouw (J Van Niekirk, 50), J-M Fernandez Lobbe, C Masoe (S Armitage, 69).

Referee: A Rolland (Ireland)