Preview: Connacht v Toulouse

Editor

Toulouse have named a matchday squad featuring 19 internationals for Saturday's Heineken Cup clash with Connacht.

Toulouse have named a matchday 23 featuring a huge 19 internationals for Saturday's Heineken Cup clash with Connacht at the Sportsground.

There are a handful of changes to the side that beat Gloucester last week as France captain Thierry Dusautoir returns to the back-row and record-breaking try-scorer Vincent Clerc starts on the left wing. He is joined in the back three by France team-mate Maxime Medard.

Centre Yannick Jauzion moves up from the bench while fly-half Lionel Beauxis starts ahead of Luke McAlister.

Up front William Servat starts ahead of Gary Botha at hooker for the four-time European champions.

Meanwhile, Connacht will play their 100th game of European rugby this weekend, with 98 of those having been in the Challenge Cup.

Toulouse have attracted a 9,000 sell-out crowd at one of the most unique grounds in world rugby and a venue where Connacht have won their last seven games in European competition.

Connacht have made just one change from the team that came close to victory last weekend against Harlequins. Dave Gannon joins Michael Swift in the second row and Ray Ofisa moving to the bench.

Mike McCarthy will take his place at blindside flanker with John Muldoon at openside and George Naoupu at number number eight. Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin and Rodney Ah You make up the front row.

The backline that outscored Harlequins two tries to one last weekend remains unchanged with Paul O'Donohoe partnering Miah Nikora at half-back.

The teams:

Connacht: 15 Gavin Duffy, 14 Tiernan O'Halloran, 13 Eoin Griffin, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Brian Tuohy, 10 Miah Nikor, 9 Paul O'Donohoe, 8 George Naoupu, 7 John Muldoon, 6 Mike McCarthy, 5 Dave Gannon, 4 Michael Swift, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Adrian Flavin, 1 Brett Wilkinson.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Dylan Rogers, 19 TJ Anderson, 20 Ray Ofisa, 21 Frank Murphy, 22 Niall O'Connor, 23 Henry Fa'afili.

Stade Toulousain: 15 Clément Poitrenaud, 14 Maxime Medard, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Vincent Clerc, 10 Lionel Beauxis, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Louis Picamoles , 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Jean Bouilhou, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Grégory Lamboley, 3 Census Johnston, 2 William Servat, 1 Yohan Montes.
Replacements: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Johnson Falefa, 19 Romain Millo-Chluski, 20 Nicolas Vergallo, 21 Yannick Nyanga, 22 Luke McAlister, 23 Gillian Galan.

Date: Saturday, November 19
Venue: The Sportsground, Galway
Kick-off: 18.00
Referee: Greg Garner