Sam Warburton will lead Cardiff Blues in an unchanged starting line-up for their Heineken Cup Pool clash with Toulon at the Arms Park on Sunday.
Wales flanker Warburton has been declared fit after suffering a dislocation to a finger in last week's disappointing loss away to Sale Sharks.
International team-mate Jamie Roberts also starts, having recovered from a heavy hit to the ribs also in last week's game in Salford.
"We're aiming to play a brand of rugby that will get our supporters on their feet and keep them entertained and we saw a bit of that last Sunday," said Blues director of rugby, Phil Davies.
"If we could have played like that for 80 minutes it would have been awesome.
"We need to be more consistent but the hard work that has been put in has been tremendous.
"Toulon, are a powerful unit, a powerful team with world-class players in every position times two.
"They have a galaxy of stars but we also have our own, which is important, and the match will be a great opportunity for us.
"It will be a heck of an occasion to test ourselves against one of the best squads in Europe.
"Their salary cap is three or four times ours but we have a group of young players who are up for the challenge.
'It's a great opportunity to get stuck in and try to beat them.
"We want the victory and have the opportunity to do it."
Meanwhile, Toulon name former Cardiff player Gethin Jenkins in their side ahead of Englishman Andrew Sheridan. Also in the team is Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Giteau.
Toulon are without back-row Joe van Niekerk and hooker Sebastien Bruno this week, who are replaced by Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Mickael Ivaldi in an impressive pack.
The teams:
Cardiff Blues: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Gavin Evans, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Tom James, 10 Ceri Sweeney, 9 Lloyd Williams, 8 Andries Pretorius (c), 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Josh Navidi, 5 Lou Reed, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Benoit Bourrust, 2 Marc Breeze, 1 Tafa'ao Filise.
Replacements: 16 Andi Kyriacou, 17 Nathan Trevett, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 James Down, 20 Robin Copeland, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Jason Tovey, 23 Dafydd Hewitt.
Toulon: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Vincent Martin, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 David Smith, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Frederic Michalak, 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 5 Jocelino Suta, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Davit Kubriashvili, 2 Mickael Ivaldi, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Jean-Charles Orioli, 17 Andrew Sheridan, 18 Carl Hayman, 19 Pierrick Gunther, 20 Maxime Mermoz, 21 Benjamin Lapeyre, 22 Nicolas Durand, 23 Simon Shaw.
Date: Sunday, October 21
Venue: Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Kick-off: 12:45 BST (11:45 GMT)
Referee: George Clancy
Comments
ArmchairGeneral says...
Toulon should have two teams in the HC. Might weaken their two benches a bit.
Posted 10:09 21st October 2012
papachinzo says...
What with the referee's clearly going against the Rabo sides and Cardiff poor form, I doubt they'll be much to see here. Otherwise it would have been a close game me thinks...
Also, Sheridan and Jenkins are not as good as people think !!
Toulon by 10
Posted 16:41 19th October 2012
Rosbif says...
Imaginary conversation between coach and medical team at RCT....
Medic: "Sorry boss. Van Niekerk's injured. No way he can play. Not a chance."
Coach: "Oh, well. I guess we'll have to play that F-Lobbe bloke. Is he fit? Have you seen him play recently?"
Medic: "....Ah, monsieur le Coach, I believe he has been in some foreign tournament, I'm not sure what it's called....."
Meanwhile, how fit do we suppose Warburton and Roberts really are?
That about sums up the difference between these two sides imo!!
Posted 15:01 19th October 2012
ouam says...
Hayman + Sheridan on the bench. The Blues front row can expect some relaxing second half.
Posted 14:23 19th October 2012
heart_of_oak says...
got to say that Toulon outfit looks good - the galacticos of the rugby world perhaps
Posted 14:20 19th October 2012
makemehappy says...
Complete no contest. They can't surrender like a load of froggies from years gone bye as their aren't French! Cardiff scrum is too poor too.
Posted 13:22 19th October 2012
melkdave says...
Well what can i say ,but annother Toulon victory ,likely for me..I cant see Cardiff getting enough ball to be effective to be honest.That Toulon backrow is formidable ,and will outplay Cadiffs wth ease imo..Line outs ,same ,and by a country mile in the frontrow.come scrum time.Backlines kind of look like they cancel eachother out,but Toulons is alot more creative imo,so again have the edge imo.
Posted 13:13 19th October 2012