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`Alfie` ready to tackle Toulouse

Tuesday 25th March 2008

French fancy: Thomas believes the Blues can get a win in south-west France

Former Toulouse man Gareth Thomas has promised his old club that Cardiff Blues will 'get in French faces' when they travel to the Stade Municipal for their Heineken Cup quarter-final.

Toulouse will start as firm favourites, despite a resounding 29-0 defeat against Stade Français at the weekend, but Thomas insists his former club are by no means invincible on their own patch.

"In my time there I never lost in the rugby stadium, Stade Ernest Wallon, and I only lost once in the football stadium, Stade Municipal," said Wales' record-cap holder.

"But I've watched them from the bench and they've lost once or twice, so I know that teams can go there and win.

"People say French teams are impossible to beat at home, but not if you get in their faces."

The two have met before, with Cardiff under their former RFC guise, in the inaugural Heineken Cup final back in 1996 - Toulouse won 21-18 after extra time.

Since then the Blues have only beaten Toulouse once - a home win in the 2001 pool stages - and could not have asked for a tougher quarter-final.

However Thomas, who won the Heineken Cup with Toulouse, believes the Blues' impressive away form in both the Europe and the EDF Cup makes the game anything but a foregone conclusion.

"We've performed well in Europe and picked up points on the road," said the man universally known as 'Alfie'.

"We also won at Bath earlier in the season in the EDF Cup and I'm looking forward to travelling away.

"I believe we can win and that we've got an opportunity going there.

"I feel that going to a beautiful place like Toulouse is like coming to the Millennium Stadium.

"It's an intimidating place but an inspirational one as well."

Thomas' Heineken Cup success with Toulouse came in 2005 - when they beat Stade Français at Murrayfield - and he has many fond memories of his time spent in south-west France.

"It will be great to go back and play somewhere that was my home for three years," he told Rugby World.

"I've got some really good friends there.

"When you go to a place like Toulouse, even though you're going for the rugby, it's good to experience the place.

"There's so much to see and so much culture you can take your mind off rugby a bit."

It will be the rugby that takes precedence a week on Sunday and Thomas believes that his current side can give Toulouse plenty to think about in the forwards - an area the French side are traditionally strong.

The Blues' pack, Thomas insists, has gone well all season and fronted up in Europe against Bristol, Harlequins and Stade Français.

"Gareth Williams has been outstanding and he's been unlucky not to be in the Wales squad," he said.

"He's keeping Rhys Thomas, another great hooker, out of the team and was surprised he was only used as a late replacement against Italy.

"Gary Powell, the prop, is also playing well and is keeping the front row competitive by making it hard to get in.

"The pack has been working really well all season. We've brought Fish (Paul Tito) into the second row, Rushy (Xavier Rush) is playing well at the back and everyone is on their toes.

"It's exciting when we get the ball behind. I believe we complement each other as forwards and backs - it's a great squad.

"We've done well this season, we're near the top of the Magners League and we've qualified for Europe again, which was a big aim.

"Europe is a really tough competition so it's a massive achievement to qualify from our pool. So we're quietly confident going to Toulouse."