News
Preview: Toulouse v Bath
October 10 2008
French champions Toulouse kick their Heineken Cup campaign off against English league-leaders Bath in a potentially explosive encounter at the Stade Municipal on Sunday.
Triple European champions and losing finalists last year, Toulouse have made six changes to the team that beat Castres in the Top 14 last Friday.
Front rowers William Servat and Jean-Baptiste Poux, lock Fabien Pelous, flank Jean Bouilhou and centre Yannick Jauzion all return to the starting line-up after being rested last week.
Perhaps more importantly, the hosts will be without two French internationals - half-back Jean Baptiste Elissalde and utility back Clement Poitrenaud.
Elissalde is suffering from renal colic (kidney stones) but Toulouse will still have a world class scrum-half in former All Black Byron Kelleher. Elissalde's absence means young prospect Mathieu Belie gets a chance to take a place on the bench.
Poitrenaud, who probably would have started at centre, is replaced by Fijian international Maleli Kunavore in another illustration of the depth of Toulouse's squad.
Meanwhile, Bath will be buoyed by the recent news that Springbok fly-half Butch James has now renewed his contract for another three years, taking him up to at least the 2011/12 season.
"First and foremost, I think it is a clash of two great sides," said skills and defence coach Brad Davis earlier this week.
"Toulouse are a great side and a joy to watch and I think they have a similar philosophy to us as to how they want the play the game. Whatever happens on Sunday, it is definitely going to be a cracker of a match."
With James back to face the French side after being rested in the EDF Energy Cup game against Leicester, the renewal of his contract is a sure sign of the determination that Bath has.
"We all know what Butch brings to the table in terms of game management and skills. With Butch re-signing, things are looking very good for the club," said Davis.
Form: After a shaky start to their domestic season the French champions have gathered momentum and confidence in recent weeks. A shock opening day defeat to Montpellier is now a distant memory. Three straight victories against fellow Heineken Cup competitors Montauban, Perpignan and Castres have moved Toulouse to second in the Top 14. Bath, in their first Heineken Cup match since 2006, are looking equally good and are top of the Guinness Premiership having won four from five, most recently getting the better of Wasps away from home.
Prediction: It will be a cracker. Home town advantage should be enough for Toulouse to edge out their visitors. Toulouse to win by six points.
Toulouse: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Yves Donguy, 13 Maleli Kunavore, 12 Yannick Jauzion, 11 Cédric Heymans, 10 David Skrela, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Shaun Sowerby, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Jean Bouilhou (c), 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Fabien Pelous, 3 Benoit Lecouls, 2 William Servat, 1 Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Replacements: 16 Virgile Lacombe, 17 Daan Human, 18 Romain Millo-Chluski, 19 Yannick Nyanga, 20 Mathieu Belie, 21 Florian Fritz, 22 Manu Ahotaeiloa.
Bath: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Joe Maddock, 13 Alex Crockett, 12 Shaun Berne, 11 Matt Banahan, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Jonny Faamatuainu, 7 Michael Lipman (c), 6 Stuart Hooper, 5 Peter Short, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Lee Mears, 1 David Flatman.
Replacement: 16 Pieter Dixon,17 Duncan Bell, 18 David Barnes, 19 James Scaysbrook, 20 Scott Bemand, 21 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, 22 Michael Stephens.
Date: Sunday, October 11
Venue: Stade Municipal
Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Touch judges: David Keane (Ireland), Jonathan Peake (Ireland)
Television match official: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)