Toulouse. Just hearing the name makes you instantly think 'Kings of Europe'. It was a name that used to instill fear in me. Not anymore! I'm just getting more and more excited about the prospect of these two teams clashing in such a big game!
Anything Toulouse can do, Leinster can do and sometimes better!
Toulouse have always had big grunt up front and flair out wide and so do Leinster. But, Toulouse don't have the best ball carrier in Europe (if not the world) and the best player in the game for the past ten years! I'm sure you know who the two men are, if not, you can't seriously call yourself a rugby fan!
I really can not wait for this game! It has all the makings of a classic encounter. Two teams who play heads up rugby and who have the mindset to run/counter attack when the time is right.
Toulouse can sometimes be their own worst enemies. They seldom kick and sometimes they play the game with the attitude of that they don't mind the opposition scoring because they'll just score more. Leinster on the otherhand have a great kicker when it's needed and a wall like defence. I hope to see Toulouse turn up with their attitude and their chests pushed out and their chins held high, because if they do, this game will be epic in every sense of the word! And regardless of the winner, the game of rugby will gain even more fans!
The big dilemma for Leinster is who to play in the back row? Does Joe Schmidt go with the ultra physical combination of Jamie Heaslip, Sean O'Brien and Kevin McLaughlin or the ultra streetwise combination of Heaslip, O'Brien and Shane Jennings?
McLaughlin is hugely physical. He hits targets like a cannonball and hits rucks like a battering ram. His lineout work has developed hugely as was evident against Leicester when he had Tom Croft and others in his pocket for the day.
Jennings brings a totally different set of skills to the table. He is an out-and-out number seven. He is the ultimate link man in play and his work rate in and around the ruck is exceptional. You might lose a little in the lineout, but when have you ever heard of Toulouse having an intimidating lineout?
I would pick Jennings to start and when he tires I would bring in McLaughlin to up the physicality and smash a few tired Toulousian bodies!
Another thing Leinster need to do is get people running off O'Brien. Too often we see O'Brien breaking through defences and having no options but to go to ground and hope that his team mates can retain the ball. Luke Fitzgerald, Isa Nacewa and Shane Horgan need to be right on top of O'Brien whenever it looks like he's going to carry, if they do it will pay off with a lot of tries! I hate to say it, but if they watched some footage of Chris Ashton they could learn some things about the way to track the game breakers.
COME ON LEINSTER!!!!
ALLEZ LES BLEUS!!!!
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