Climbing Everest: Yannick Nyanga
Toulouse flank Yannick Nyanga has labelled winning at Welford Road the "Everest" of European rugby ahead of Sunday's decisive clash with Leicester.
The fixture between the two former champions is undoubtedly the clash of the final pool round, with top spot in Pool Two and a place in the quarter-final on offer for the winners while the losers are set to be eliminated.
Toulouse took a while to getting going against Treviso last weekend and French international Nyanga, who captained the four-time champions in what ended up being a bonus-point victory, is well aware they cannot afford another slow start this weekend.
"We got the job done (against Treviso), even if the manner left something to be desired," said Nyanga.
"We're going to be stubborn and continue to believe in what we're doing.
"We knew that this last match at Leicester would be decisive," he added.
"We have the capacity to trouble them even if they lose very few matches at home.
"It's the Everest of the competition that awaits us but we have a week to prepare well.
"We'll be up against half of the England team and when you see their results during the autumn internationals, you can see that it's a massive challenge in store for us."
Toulouse were 23-9 winners the last time the teams clashed, in the Ville Rose back in October, thanks largely to an opportunistic try from young centre Gaël Fickou, who will miss the return clash due to an ankle injury.
Comments
lawynd says...
@makemehappy - a few; Tom Croft, Geordan Murphy, Graham Kitchener, Micky Young, Dan Bowden, Miles Benjamin, Vereniki Goneva and Scott Hamilton. Of those, four of them would be starters (Croft, Murphy, Kitchener and Benjamin or Goneva).
Posted 16:28 16th January 2013
makemehappy says...
@ArmchairGeneral - were there many injured, that couldn't play last weekend?
If Tolouse had Leinster's attitude then this would be a comfortable win for them. However given they are French through and through............
Posted 13:14 16th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
@Frooschman: Tigers can put together a better team than the one that went to Ospreys. Wouldn't measure them on that.
Posted 09:12 16th January 2013
Chancer says...
Both teams have not performed to their potential, French teams historically start slowly, Leicester rely on scrum power-Flood not good when behind forwards under pressure but they have home advantage with an enormous partisan crowd. Toulouse have backs with more potential and Mcs long range boot. I am biased towards T and expect them to win provided they come with the intention to play.
Posted 08:03 16th January 2013
BeeJay says...
Tiny74, you beat me to it. In fact, Munster were so peed off after that win they pulled the stadium down and built a new one! ;-)
(Tiny74, I'm assuming you're a Tiger)
Posted 07:50 16th January 2013
tiny74 says...
Thormond.. nah,, last time we were there we won..
Posted 22:02 15th January 2013
carpelone says...
Rosbif
Huget is the most useless wing. I wonder what he did to get a professional contract.
I could still do a better job.
Posted 20:02 15th January 2013
carpelone says...
Bon soir mon amis.
I think that if Toulouse play at the same level they played with Treviso they will be in dire troubles.
Especially at scrum time, when a more competent referee can pick your props boring in.
Bonne chance
Posted 20:00 15th January 2013
Toulousain says...
nice looking team rosbif. i am a little worried that botha and burgess will the two of them start, despite not being at the top of their form. botha's throwing in the lineout has been very poor in recent games. and burgess just doesnt seem to be on the same wavelength as mcallister when it is time to open the game. that said, if ST play a limited game, burgess can be very effective as an extra forward?
i also wonder whether noves might start with jauzion since david has not played in a while. or have him on the bench instead of beauxis who has also not played for many weeks? and maybe medard will start instead of la poite, but again it's a big risk so soon after his injury.
allez les gars!!
Posted 15:28 15th January 2013
Frooschman says...
Having watched Leics against the Ospreys on Saturday I think they're a little off the pace at the moment. Good defence but not much else? I'll admit to not having seen much of them this season but it seems that unless they gain total dominance up front they can't get the job done? Against this Toulouse eight and given the extra fire power from the bench I just don't see Leics getting the necessary leverage to paper over the cracks in their offence. That said, they're at home and while they're lacking form they do possess class in abundance. If RC can get their collective heads in the right place who know! I still say Toulouse by 6-10.
Posted 13:27 15th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Everest.. Na. Mont Blanc... Maybe.
Posted 13:16 15th January 2013
marko72 says...
Nah, it's Thomond..
Posted 13:03 15th January 2013
Rosbif says...
Barring injury (i.e. Johnson and Beauxis are still uncertain?) I would hope to see:
Starting XV. Steenkamp Tolofua Johnson Maestri Albacete Nyanga Picamoles Dusautoir Doussain McAllister Fritz David Huget Clerc Poitrenaud
Bench. Poux Kakovin Servat Millo-C Bouilhou Burgess Beauxis Medard
Then it's all about mindset. Do they really want to play?
Posted 12:51 15th January 2013
pierredelot1 says...
Both teams blowing hot and cold it depends who turns up on the day. Last time Picamoles versus Waldrom and co was a total demolition.
Posted 12:45 15th January 2013