Toulouse eyeing another easy
win over Toulon with new Half Back
First round of the Heineken Cup’s knock out stages have been completed and teams, which will take on each other in semi finals, have been decided after some fashion.
For European Rugby, last week delivered some of the most memorable moments and games.
However action will not stop, as we have few big games coming up during the weekends. While English, Irish and French teams continue with their domestic season, Heineken Cup semi finalist teams would be with the opportunity to further develop their certain
aspects of the game.
Nevertheless, in order to do so, it is essential that the teams stick to their winning combination. Nevertheless, sometimes teams are forced to do on the opposite. While there can be number of reason for changing their winning combination the most common
cause is the injuries.
Current European champions have defeated the last year’s Heineken Cup runners up, Biarritz Olympique during the weekends to reach the semi finals have been forced to do certain major changes in their forward line.
Toulouse will be playing their 24th game of the French Top 14 during the coming weekend. Toulouse currently the leader of the French Top 14 are five points ahead of the second ranked Racing Metro.
However, Toulouse has a tough ask ahead of their game, as they will take on the Toulon. Toulon of course has been beaten out of the Heineken Cup contention as Perpignan recovered to steal the game away from the new comers.
Toulon however, has shown their strength and also how good team they are and in order to secure, a win Toulouse need to put their best. However, their match preparations have suffered a major blow, as Toulouse will have to field an untried halfback partnership
for their weekend encounter.
The change in the forward line came as Toulouse has opted to rest their star Fly Half rest David Skrela. In addition to this Toulouse Scrum Nicolas Bezy has been ruled out to take part in the game against Toulon.
Bezy sustained injuries in his right ankle and left thigh during Toulouse last match against the Biarritz. He left the field during the 96th minute and was substituted by Jean-Marc Doussain.
Doussain will take the field as Fly Half in place of Skrela. However, Nicolas Vergallo would take over at Scrum Half. Vergallo will take the field for the first time in the five weeks as he recovered from the arm injury. He was not an immediate choice, rather
it was a forced on as both Byron Kelleher and Frederic Michalak was not available for selection for the weekends match.
Byron Kelleher is suffering from Calf injury while Frederic Michalak has sustained ankle injuries earlier in the season.
Toulouse would definitely expect a stiff challenge from Toulon who is currently placed at the 7th position in Top 14 with 61 points. Both teams played each other in October, last year and it was Toulouse affair all alone. The only scoring for
Toulon came during the 57th minute try of their Centre Tom May.
A victory here for Toulon would ensure them the place in the play offs of the French Top 14, which for them would a good end to the season. Toulouse however, will start as the favourite, are expected to win the game by heavy margin, and may also end up securing
a bonus point from the match.
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