Preview: Leinster v Toulouse
There will be an air of déjà vu in the first Heineken Cup semi-final on Saturday when Leinster host Toulouse at Lansdowne Road.
There will be an air of déjà vu in the first Heineken Cup semi-final on Saturday when Leinster host Toulouse at Lansdowne Road.
The Irish province will be seeking revenge for defeat in last year's semi-final in France, when they were monstered at scrum-time as Toulouse marched on towards a fourth European title.
Indeed last year's version of this clash can be summed up rather easily: Leinster simply had no answer to the rouge et noir pack and were on the back foot almost from start to finish.
But that was then.
Right now, Leinster are without doubt the form team in Europe and their showdown with the defending champions is set to mark the highpoint of the tournament.
One of the major themes in the build up this week has been the similarities in style between Saturday's protagonists and if all goes to plan we're set to be treated to a demonstration of the best Europe has to offer in terms of open, fast, attacking rugby.
In typical fashion, Toulouse boss Guy Novès has been gushing with praise for Leinster all week. He's even gone so far as to say four-time champions will be playing without pressure since no one expects Toulouse to win. He added his side “will try not to be given a big hiding.”
Ahem.
Well, let's just say we took the habit adding a pinch of salt to whatever monsieur Novès says a long time ago. But the Godfather of European rugby has a point.
Leinster will start as favourites. Despite leading the Top 14 and having already secured a place in their domestic semi-finals, Toulouse have not set the stage alight beyond French borders – as demonstrated by their loss to Wasps on the final day of the pool stages. As a direct result of that glitch, les Toulousains must now travel to Dublin.
But the question remains, have Leinster come up with answers to the questions posed in France a year ago?
First and foremost, the Dubliners' pack is stronger than last year's unit. Hooker Richardt Strauss and flank Sean O'Brien were not involved in last year's clash, and have both been in devastating form this season. Johnny Sexton's absence was sorely felt twelve months ago but he is fit this time, and a year older and wiser: the influence of the tournament's top scorer cannot be overstated.
As for the record books, the clash at the Aviva Stadium will mark the ninth time the sides face-off with Toulouse leading the stakes with five wins to Leinster's three.
Significantly, it will also be the third time they meet in the knock-out stages. Toulouse are the first team to play in ten HEC semi-finals, they've won six. Leinster have made it past the semi-finals just once in five attempts.
In team news, there are four changes to the Toulouse line-up that beat Biarritz in the quarter finals.
Novès has kept faith with the midfield partnership that started in San Sebastian with Clément Poitrenaud at inside centre, meaning Yannick Jauzion is left on the bench.
At scrum-half Jean-Marc Doussain starts ahead of Nicolas Bezy, who has been struggling with an ankle injury but is amongst the replacements.
Yannick Nyanga, who scored the winning try in the quarter-final, starts on the flank in place of Sylvain Nicolas, who is injured. Jean Bouilhou will captain the side since Thierry Dusautoir has been left on the bench as he returns to full match fitness after an injury lay-off
In the second row Yoann Maestri takes over from Romain Millo-Chluski while in the front row Jean-Baptiste Poux swaps with Daan Human, who is on the bench.
Meanwhile, Leinster have named the same side that defeated Leicester Tigers in the quarter-finals. There are six Ireland internationals in the pack which includes skipper Leo Cullen and Ireland props Cian Healy and Mike Ross.
Shane Jennings takes his place amongst a strong replacements bench for the sell out encounter.
Players to watch:
For Leinster: Loosehead prop Cian Healy has featured in Leinster's last 27 Heineken Cup matches including last year's semi-final. If the Irish Province are to avoid a repeat of that result, the first point of call must be the scrum. If they are murdered in similar fashion to last time, they can forget about winning. Along with front row partners Mike Ross and Richardt Strauss, Healy's experience will be vital in his battle with a formidable Toulouse front row.
For Toulouse: Apparently he's too old for les Bleus, but Cédric Heymans has been in some of the best form of his career in recent months. The only man to have won four Heineken Cup titles (three with Toulouse and another with Brive) his try in the quarter-finals showed he's lost none of the magic that made him one of the world's most feared counter attackers.
Head-to-head: There is no lack of tantalising match-ups and the tussle in midfields (Cl̩ment Poitrenaud-Florian Fritz v Gordon d'Arcy-Brian O'Driscoll) should be another classic. But more influential could be the battle of the Back rows, especially between number eights Louis Picamoles and Jamie Heaslip, who offer very different profiles. Picamoles is all about power and carrying the ball into contact. Heaslip on the other hand loves to gallop in space. Which style will prevail in Dublin? Also keep an eye on Thierry Dusautoir when comes off the bench Рand he will Рas his battle with Sean O'Brien should be epic.
Previous results:
2010: Toulouse won 26 – 16 in Toulouse
2008: Leinster won 20 – 13 in Dublin
Prediction: The bookies are going with hosts and, considering forced changes in the Toulouse camp, we tend to agree. Leinster to win by six points.
The teams:
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Stan Wright, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Shane Jennings, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Fergus McFadden.
Toulouse: 15 Cédric Heymans, 14 Vincent Clerc, 13 Florian Fritz, 12 Clément Poitrenaud, 11 Maxime Medard, 10 David Skrela, 9 Jean-Marc Doussain, 8 Louis Picamoles , 7 Yannick Nyanga, 6 Jean Bouilhou, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Yoann Maestri, 3 Census Johnston, 2 William Servat, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements: 16 Virgile Lacombe, 17 Daan Human, 18 Johnson Falefa, 19 Thierry Dusautoir, 20 Nicolas Bezy, 21 Yannick Jauzion, 22 Shaun Sowerby, 23 Grégory Lamboley.
Date: Saturday, April 30
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 15:30 (14.30 GMT)
Weather: 14°C. Sunny intervals
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
By Ross Hastie