Heineken Cup preview: Toulouse v Leinster
In the first of the weekend’s two Heineken Cup semi-finals, three-time champions Toulouse will host reigning European Cup winners, Leinster, at the Stadium Municipal.
The Top 14 outfit cruised out of the group stages, rarely needing to accelerate out of first gear throughout the opening stages of this year’s campaign. They suffered just one defeat in their first six matches, against Cardiff Blues, and stormed to the quarter-finals with some breathtaking performances.
Having lost out in the 2008 Heineken Cup Final against Munster, Toulouse now appear to possess the steely determination of a team intent on winning their fourth title. Their most impressive performance of this year’s campaign came in the quarters against Stade Français, where a quite brilliant 42-16 home victory booked Toulouse’s place in the last four, setting up a mouth-watering encounter against the mighty Leinster.
The Magners League side currently top their domestic league with one match left to play before the play-offs, and will head into this European semi-final full of confidence following their 29-28 victory over Toulouse’s compatriots Clermont Auvergne in the previous round.
Like their semi-final opponents, Leinster finished top of their pool in the group stages after several resounding wins against the likes of Scarlets and Brive.
Michael Cheika’s men are gunning to become the first team to retain the Heineken Cup since Leicester Tigers in 2002, but must overcome their toughest possible challenge this Saturday.
With a sell-out crowd packed inside the 35,000 capacity Stadium Municipal, there’s sure to be a memorable atmosphere generated by the home faithful and the visiting Irish supporters.
However, if Leinster are to leave France with a place in their second consecutive European Cup Final, they must beat Toulouse without their talismanic fly-half Jonathan Sexton. The 24-year-old Ireland international has failed to recover from a broken jaw in time for this must-win match, and so the onus will fall on Shaun Berne to take over playmaker duties.
"We have 100% confidence that Shaun Berne can do the job," insists Cheika.
Meanwhile, Toulouse have few injury concerns coming into this semi-final. Their strength in depth makes them an even more formidable proposition for Leinster; but they can’t afford to let the French side’s reputation scare them.
The Irish side will take heart from the fact that they won here not so long ago. Back in 2006, Leinster took on Toulouse on French soil and produced a stunning display to seal their place in that year’s semis. An effective combination of hard-work, commitment and passion proved enough for them to edge out their opponents, 41-35.
A similar performance will be required this Saturday. History will be made this weekend, but Leinster will need to be at their imperious best to ensure it’s them, and not Toulouse, re-writing the record books.
Prediction: A narrow Toulouse win.
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