News

Toulouse champing at the bit

July 30 2009

After an anti-cliamctic season that saw them eliminated in the semi-finals of both Top 14 and Heineken Cup, Toulouse's stars have hit pre-season hard.

Wing Vincent Clerc - who missed the first part of last season following a nasty knee injury - is one who cannot wait to set about putting the record straight.

He is now back to his leanest, back to the size he was in 2007 when he had such an excellent Six Nations and World Cup, and is high on confidence after finding a spot in France's squad again for the June Tests.

"It went very well, it was cool," he told rugbyrama about the June tour.

"It helped me to see where I was.

"Defensively or offensively I managed to keep up, but I saw I was still missing something.

"I'm slowly getting back to my best level but there is still work to do. I know I can do much better but I will work accordingly."

For the club, rocked this week by the unexpected death of team logistics and administrative manager Didier Lacroix, the target is to get back amongst the silverware.

"Our objectives are clear here. The first obligation is to do better than last year and therefore to win something," continued Clerc.

"We did not obtain the title, we have not been effective and we did not take pleasure at the end of the season.

"I believe that this disappointment has given a fresh impetus to the team. The team which played against Montpellier (in Friday's 41-3 friendly win) have demonstrated this during our first match. The aim is to have fun and therefore make progress."